QUETTA, Nov 20: Baloch nationalist leader Mir Abdul Nabi Bangulzai was released from the Quetta district jail on Thursday.

Mir Bangulzai, a close aide of veteran Baloch leader Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, was arrested in September 2000 in the Justice Nawaz Marri case.

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Zafarullah Zehri, Communications and Works Minister Mir Sadiq Ali Umrani and a large number of political activists received Mir Bangulzai outside the jail.

The provincial government has withdrawn all cases against Mir Bangulzai as part of a reconciliation process of the PPP government.

Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti, grandson of Nawab Akbar Bugti, former chief minister Sardar Akhtar Mengal and several activists of nationalist parties were released earlier after cases against them were withdrawn.

The provincial government has also dropped eight cases against Nawab Marri and his sons.

Mir Bangulzai said that movement for national rights would continue till the resolution of the Balochistan issue.

Mr Zehri said the provincial government had fulfilled its promise regarding release of political prisoners.