QUETTA, May 15: Nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti on Sunday suggested formation of a political platform for the Baloch cause and offered to dissolve his Jamhoori Watan Party for the purpose. Speaking at a press conference on telephone from Dera Bugti, he said: “I am ready to dissolve my party for the formation of a united platform for fulfilling the hopes and desires of the innocent and oppressed Baloch people.”

He said the Baloch would highly appreciate if nationalist parties, groups and personalities, including the National Party, the Balochistan National Party, the Haq Tawar and the JWP ended their separate identities and formed a broader political platform.

The JWP chief said it was time for Baloch leaders to play a historic role for the future of their deprived nation by putting aside their differences and ego.

He said that with the formation of a larger platform the leaders would be able to work jointly for achieving their national objectives, including the right to rule and protection of their coast and resources.

Nawab Bugti said that such a platform would enable the Baloch nation to decide whether to pursue the path of parliamentary politics with patience or wage a decisive struggle.

“We should be ready to wage a struggle and to sacrifice our comforts,” he said.

He said the future of Balochistan looked bleak in view of the past and present army operations and with little hope for any improvement in the situation. He said the situation was likely to deteriorate.

Mr Bugti said it had become necessary for Baloch nationalists and their supporters to take a revolutionary decision to face the situation and form a broader platform.

He said the four-party Baloch National Alliance and other groups should end their separates status and set up a new political organization.