QUETTA, Feb 18: Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani has condemned the resolution moved in the US Congress in favour of separatists and termed the move an interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan and violation of international laws.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, he urged the federal government to formally lodge a protest with the US government.

“The US government should ensure that its senators and congressmen avoid anti-Pakistan activities. The resolution should be rejected.” Mr Raisani said Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher who had moved the resolution was a controversial person and speaking against Pakistan was his habit.

The resolution states that the Baloch nation has a historic right to self-determination. It notes that Balochistan is currently divided between Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan with no sovereign rights of its own. The Baloch people in Pakistan are subjected to violence and extrajudicial killing.

Mr Raisani said that soon after the Abbottabad operation Congressman Rohrabacher had moved a bill in the Congress asking the US government to stop aid for Pakistan and also alleged that Pakistan would hand over the wreckage of a helicopter used in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden to China if it was not been taken back immediately.

Mr Raisani said Rohrabacher was the same senator who had earlier opposed declaring Taliban terrorists and described them as supporters of an organised society who wanted real development in their country. He had also supported terrorist Mohyuddin Ahmed who was involved in killing a large number of women and children in Bangladesh.

The chief minister said there was no separatist movement in Balochistan, adding that the so-called supporters of human rights had never raised a voice for the right to self-determination of the people of Kashmir and Palestine who had been struggling for self-rule for the past 60 years.

He said the US lawmakers had no interest in Baloch people and their right to self-determination. Their recent activities were just aimed to put pressure on the Pakistan government and achieve some incentives in the game being played in the region for hegemony.

Mr Raisani said there was an elected government in Balochistan having representation from all areas of the province and these representatives had been sent to the assembly through vote by the people. “The resolution moved in the US Congress is not only interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan but also an insult to the mandate of the people of Balochistan.”

He said moving the resolution on the eve of a tripartite conference between Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan was aimed at driving wedges between the three brotherly countries.

He urged the federal government to ignore all foreign pressure and implement the Pak-Iran gas pipeline and other energy projects. He said Iran’s move to help Pakistan resolve its energy crisis was very encouraging and Pakistan must benefit from it.

Mr Raisani expressed the hope that the US foreign office and its ambassador in Pakistan would play their role and dissociate themselves from the resolution. “I hope the US government will reject the resolution on Balochistan,” he added.