QUETTA, March 16: The Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (PONM) on Friday decided to attend the multi-party conference convened by the PML-N in London, according to Mahmood Khan Achakzai.

He said that representatives of the nationalist alliance would forcefully present their point of view.

He was addressing a press conference in Wadh after the conclusion of a meeting of the alliance’s central council. He was accompanied by Sardar Ataullah Mengal, Sardar Mumtaz Bhutto, Dr Hayee Baloch, Abdul Majid Kanjo, Dr Qadir Magsi, Zain Shah, Maulana Obaidullah Bhutto, Maulana Azizullah, M.M. Bata and Qamar Bhatti.

Mr Achakzai said that the alliance would organise protest rallies against the government in Quetta, Gwadar, Karachi and Peshawar.

Maintaining that the Ponm would cooperate with all political parties against the role of army and intelligence agencies in politics, he blamed the army and intelligence agencies for the political crisis in the country and said the meeting had discussed all issues confronting the people.

He said that the Ponm still strictly adhered to its original agenda formulated at the time of the establishment of the alliance that a new social contract was necessary to frame a fresh constitution in accordance with the resolution of 1940 to grant national and democratic rights to Balochs, Pakhtuns, Sindhis and Seraikis.

The Ponm leader said that while the alliance did not favour the dissolution of the federation and still favoured the unity of the state but the rulers should recognise the national rights and provinces’ ownership rights of their resources.

Mr Achakzai said that generals, who were in the habit of seizing political powers, should realise that people could no longer be suppressed through the use of guns.

Criticising the ‘suspension’ of the Chief Justice of Pakistan, the detention of Baloch youths, including Sardar Akhtar Mengal, ongoing military operation in Dera Bugti and Kohlu and forced disappearances of people, he said that they would not be deterred by excesses and victimisation and they would not give up the struggle against oppressors.

He said that the ARD, MMA and other democratic forces should play a collective role to restore democratic order in the country.