KARACHI, March 12: The Balochistan National Party chief, Sardar Akhtar Mengal on Monday urged his party’s workers not to be cowed by oppressive forces and unite and continue their peaceful struggle till they secured their rights.

He made these remarks on Monday while speaking to a two member BNP team comprising Hameed Sajna and Mehrullah Mengal which met him after the hearing of his case in the anti-terrorism court set up in the Central Prison.

He said the Baloch had faced the English for over 200 years, so they were not afraid of launching of a struggle against oppressive forces and the struggle would continue till they acquired control over their resources.

He said that when the government agencies “picked up” people and they were not presented in the courts, it showed that the government did not trust its courts and also that the writ of the government was slipping.

He said that suspension of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, who was asking questions from the government on incidents of disappearances of a large number of people, was a clear sign the rulers were becoming unnerved and feeling uneasy when such questions were asked by the judiciary.

He also urged party workers to spread awareness among the people regarding their rights.

Meanwhile the participants of a demonstration on Monday demanded that all Baloch youth, taken away by the secret agencies be released immediately.

Speaking at the demonstration held at the Karachi Press Club to mark the 200th day of token hunger strike by the family of Gohram Saleh, who, according to the family had been taken away by the government agencies more than 32 months ago from Gawadar.

The family said that taking away people like this was not only violation of their basic human rights but was also against basic rights as enshrined in the constitution. They said that such actions of the government were against various international human rights conventions signed by the country.

A large number of people, besides the wife, sister, children of Mr Saleh, participated in the demonstration and chanted slogans demanding the immediate recovery of all “disappeared people.”