QUETTA: Leaders of the National Party paid tribute to the late Mir Ghous Bakhsh Bizenjo here on Monday and vowed to resist any undemocratic move and to continue their struggle for strengthening democracy and protecting the coast and resou­r­ces of Balochistan while following his political thought.

Speaking at a public meeting held on the lawns of the MPAs’ Hostel here to obse­r­ve the 25th death anniversary of Mir Bizenjo, National Party president Hasil Khan Bizenjo, Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, the party’s secretary general Tahir Bizenjo, provincial chief Dr Yaseen Baloch and others said his political thoughts and lifelong struggle for strengthening democracy and democratic institutions and the rights of the people could not be forgotten.

It was his struggle that had paved the way for election of the National Party’s government in the province, they said.

They supported meaningful dialogue with armed Baloch people and said the issue of missing persons should be resolved for paving the way for initiating talks to resolve the Balochistan issue. Hasil Bizenjo thanked the workers for attending the public meeting in a large number and said they were his party’s asset.

The chief minister said the National Party and other political forces would fully resist any attempt to wind up the political and democratic set-up.

He said it was the responsibility of the democratic forces to unite against undemocratic elements.

“If any dictator makes an attempt to topple the political set-up the National Party will be in frontline to resist such a move,” he said. All conspiracies against democracy and democratic institutions would be foiled with the help and cooperation of democratic forces, he said.

He said the late Mir Bizenjo had struggled for democracy, rights of the people and betterment of humanity.

Dr Baloch said the provincial government was making all our efforts to solve the problems being faced by the people and the province since long. He said the law and order situation was improving and business activities in the province had increased.

He said his government was also striving to resolve issues related to health and education.

Tahir Bizenjo said the ‘establishment’ should change its aggressive attitude towards Balochistan, meaningful dialogue should be initiated with the armed groups in the province and the issue of missing persons should be resolved for paving the way for the success of the talks.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2014