KARACHI, Nov 12: The National Party has decided to observe ‘protest day’ in Balochistan on Nov 16 against the ongoing military operation in that province, arrests and kidnappings, besides disappearance of Baloch activists.

The protests coincide with the arrival of Gen Pervez Musharraf in Gwadar that day. He is expected to address a gathering of Baloch tribal elders and representatives of various groups of people.

Announcing the protest plan here on Sunday, NP Secretary-General Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo told a news conference that there would be a complete shutter-down in Balochistan on Nov 16 and protest demonstrations and rallies would be held across the province. MPA Jan Mohammad Buledi, former senator Tahir Khan Bizenjo, NP Sindh organiser Rahim Bakhsh Jefery and several other central leaders of the party were present at the press conference.

Mr Bizenjo said he would lead a rally in the port city of Gwadar.

He criticised holding of the musical programme scheduled for that day in Gwadar on the occasion of the general’s visit, and described it as “a cruel attempt to add to the miseries of Baloch people.”

Giving his account of the current situation in the troubled province, he said the situation was still grim, adding that Kohlu, Dera Bugti and Lehri areas were in a state of complete siege and the local residents were experiencing scarcity of food and other items. He quoted a government spokesman as saying that 5,000 ‘suspects’ had been detained, and claimed that the number of arrested or missing persons was no less than 7,000.

He deplored the government for not honouring even court orders for the production of detainees, and asked: “How does the government expect people to respect law while it does not show any respect to law and judiciary?”

Regarding the Waseem Sajjad Committee, the Baloch leader said the Baloch nationalist parties, including the Balochistan National Party (Mengal) and the Jamhoori Watan Party, had submitted a draft on the autonomy issue with the committee, but the government had not yet considered it.

In reply to a question, Mr Bizenjo said that objectives of the grand Baloch Jirga convened by the Khan of Kalat were the same as the proposals for autonomy contained in the nationalist parties’ draft.

He slammed the government for calling his opponents as ‘anti-state elements’, saying that whenever they raised the demand for greater autonomy, they were dubbed as anti-state elements.

He held the government responsible for the Balochistan issue getting complicated, and accused it of having adopted violent methods to solve political problems. He argued that how could people be restrained from indulging in violence when the government itself would indulge in violence.

Mr Bizenjo also condemned air-strike by Pakistan army to destroy a seminary and killed more than 80 of its students in Bajaur Agency, and said what happened later was its natural reaction.

He urged the rulers to revise their policies and opt for peaceful methods to get political problems resolved.

Meanwhile, prominent Baloch leaders belonging to the defunct National Awami Party (NAP) Engineer Hameed Baloch and Engineer Amanullah Baloch, on the occasion, announced their decision to join the NP.