KARACHI, July 29: The Balochistan-based nationalist parties are yet to take a decision on whether to support the two major opposition alliances, MMA and ARD, in moving a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

According to Mir Hasil Bizenjo, Secretary-General of the National Party, the nationalist parties forming the Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (Ponam) would take a decision in this regard and the same would be binding on all component parties, including the NP.

“According to my information, Ponam has not been approached so far by ARD or MMA regarding the move,” Mr Bizenjo said.

He said during his recent visit to London, he had a meeting with PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif and discussed with him, among other issues, the proposed no-confidence move. He said that Mr Sharif wanted NP to support the motion. “However, I categorically told him that NP would abide by the decision to be taken by Ponam,” he added.

Talking to Dawn here on Saturday, Mr Bizenjo said his party had already discussed the opposition alliances’ move at its recent meeting and decided to wait for a final decision by Ponam leadership.

Describing provincial autonomy as ‘core issue’, he said: “We will decide our response to the ARD and MMA after assessing the attitude of the two alliances on this issue.”

Mr Bizenjo said the matter of participating in any general election also depended on a decision by the Ponam leadership.

He reiterated that NP’s stand that democracy could not function in the country unless due rights of all federating units were recognised and all of them were allowed to manage their own economies and political system without any interference on the part of the federal authorities.

The NP leader was of the view that the ongoing armed conflict in Balochistan was a direct consequence of the denial of fundamental and other constitutional rights to that province and other small provinces.

He deplored the military and civil bureaucracy for creating the crisis by pitting the country’s armed forces against Baloch civilians and thus repeating the blunder of 1971. He warned that Gen Musharraf’s action was increasing hatred in Baloch people against the armed forces.

After failing to bring the situation under control, he claimed, the rulers had now resorted to adopting coercive methods to intimidate Baloch activists by keeping them in illegal detention camps set up in remote areas and undisclosed locations.

He appealed to all human rights organisations to take a serious note of serious violation of basic human rights in Balochistan. He also asked the rulers to immediately stop the military operation and resolve the issue through peaceful means.