QUETTA, March 17: A joint meeting of three opposition parties in the Balochistan Assembly have demanded that Afghan refugees and other foreigners be driven out from the province, saying they had made Quetta a safe haven for terrorists.

The joint meeting of Jamhoori Watan Party, Balochistan National Party and National Party was held at Bugti House here on Wednesday with Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch in the chair.

Habib Jalib Baloch, BNP secretary general, Agha Shahid Bugti, JWP's acting secretary general, senator Amanullah Kanrani and Dr Ishaq Baloch of National Party represented their parties at the meeting.

The meeting condemned the terrorist attack on the Ashura-day procession and torching of shops, business centres and commercial establishment in Quetta and held the government responsible for it.

It was observed that the government and law enforcement agencies had failed to protect the life and property of the masses. "The country is facing a wave of terrorism due to the wrong policies of the government," the meeting observed.

It accused the government of using foreigners, including Afghan refugees, for its vested interest who flooded into the country in 1979. The meeting demanded that all Afghan refugees be sent back to their country without further delay, and all local certificates and national identity cards issued to them be cancelled.

The meeting decided that a joint public meeting of the three parties will be held on 2 and 4 April in Dera Bugti and Dera Murad Jamali, respectively, to mobilize the masses.