QUETTA, July 10: Leaders of political and religious parties, lawyers, farmers and traders appealed to the people of Balochistan on Tuesday to foil a “conspiracy hatched by spy agencies and other elements to pit them against each other by promoting violence and sectarianism”. Provincial ANP chief Aurangzeb Kasi presided over the conference hosted by his party. Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldini of BNP-M, Dr Ishaq Baloch of NP, Jaffar Mandokhel of PML-Q, Allauddin Kakar of PML-N, Qari Meharullah of JUI-I, Abdul Matin Akhundzada of JI, Noorullah Watandost of JWP, Abdul Khaliq Hazara of HDP, Maulvi Shafiq Daulatzai of JUI-S, Malik Aminullah Kakar of Balochistan Bar Association, Abdur Rehman Bazai of Zamindar Action Committee and Rahim Kakar of Anjuman-i-Tajiran addressed the conference.

A joint declaration issued after the meeting condemned killing of innocent citizens, especially Baloch political workers, Hazara community’s members, religious scholars and seminary students.

It expressed concern over growing lawlessness and said kidnappings for ransom and robberies on highways had become a business because of inaction of law-enforcement agencies.

The declaration appealed to people to frustrate a conspiracy of hidden hands to cerate political unrest and religious disharmony leading to disorder.

The participants held the government, administration and police responsible for the lawlessness.

They said the authorities had not protected the citizens and had given a free hand to criminals and the government had failed to nab target killers and kidnappers.

They urged the people to come out against the criminals, expose the forces behind the anti-social elements involved in the crimes.

They demanded investigation into alleged large-scale corruption in funds granted to provincial ministers.

The declaration appealed to people to pursue non-violence, protect their rights within the ambit of the law and develop their centuries old brotherly relations to create harmony in the society.

It held the MQM responsible for killings of Pakhtuns, Baloch and Sindhis in Karachi and demanded action against what it termed the terrorist organisation.

The conference urged the government to issue arrest warrants of former president Pervez Musharraf in the Nawab Akbar Bugti murder case.