ISLAMABAD, April 19: A protest demonstration was staged outside the Parliament House against the presence of security forces in Balochistan, detention of political workers and demanded their release. They criticized the exploitation of the Baloch people by the multinational companies and the traditional elite.

The demonstration, organized by the Balochistan Solidarity Front, an alliance of political workers and intellectuals, was participated by members of Baloch Students Organization whose chairperson Dr Imdad Baloch was arrested in Karachi on March 25 and whose whereabouts are still unknown.

Speaking on the occasion, Asha Amirali of the Peoples Rights Movement (PRM) said that the government had totally misrepresented the situation in Balochistan by manipulating communication networks.

She said the people were genuinely opposing the forced development in the province and setting up cantonments. The protesters said that the so-called agreement between Nawab Akbar Bugti and the government was yet another public relations stunt of the government to water down popular sentiment. Security forces are present in large numbers in Dera Bugti and Sui and the people of the area are being mistreated.