ISLAMABAD Aug 27: MNA of Balochistan National Party (BNP) Abdur Rauf Mengal led a demonstration outside the local press club on Friday to express solidarity with the people of Balochistan protesting against the military operation and the building of cantonments in their province.

Mr Mengal carried a placard depicting the demand of nationalist Balochistan parties to register his protest. Later, talking to Dawn at the lobby of Parliament House, Mr Mengal said the people of Balochistan did not like construction of cantonment in Gwadar, Dera Bugti, Khuzdar, Turbat and other places as these were not located in bordering areas of the province.

He said: "We appeal to the human rights organizations to take notice of the military operations in which scores of our people were detained." Mr Mengal said their struggle would continue till the military junta reversed its decisions "which were against the interests of Balochistan".

Meanwhile, prominent political and tribal leaders from Balochistan have welcomed the government's initiative aimed at resolving the crisis gripping Balochistan.

These views were expressed by the nationalist Balochi leaders BNP MNA Rauf Mengal, Senator Sanaullah Khan Baloch, chief of Jhalawan Sardar Sanaullah Khan Zehri, Nawab Aminullah Raeesani, Sardar Habib Siddiq Raeesani, Mir Shahnawaz Kurd and Sardar Dhani Baksh Lashari at a dinner hosted in their honour by PML senior vice-president Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind.

The Baloch leaders discussed the issues concerning the province and praised the federal government's decision to set up senate committee for understanding the problems faced by Balochistan and submit its report to senate.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Rind said the country was making tremendous progress under the leadership fo Gen Pervez Musharraf.