GWADAR: Former chief minister and National Party president Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has claimed that after the ouster of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government in Balochistan his party was offered to establish government in the province, but its leadership refused as it never compromised on its ideology.

Speaking at a public mee­ting in Turbat on Thursday, he said that his party had also received several offers during the Musharraf reg­i­­me to form its government, but it had refused to compromise on the rights of Baloch people.

“In 2008 and even in 2018 the party was asked to make a compromise on some issues, but instead of becoming a part of undemocratic moves it opted for the supremacy of parliament and democracy,” he added.

Mr Baloch said some incumbent ministers and members of the Balochistan Assembly received favours for supporting the no-confidence motion against former chief minister Sanaullah Zehri, “but the National Party, instead of accepting personal benefits, safeguarded the rights of people”.

He criticised the federal government for its decision to establish the National Coastal Development Authority and termed it another step to steal Balochistan’s rights.

The federal government had also refused to include development projects in its Public Sector Development Programme, the former chief minister claimed.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2019