QUETTA: A strike and `black day’ was observed in several districts on Friday in response to a call of the Baloch Salvation Front (BSF) and Baloch National Front (BNF) in protest against merger of the state of Kalat with Pakistan.

In a statement, the BSF and BNF claimed that Kalat state had been merged with Pakistan on March 27, 1948 in violation of the international law.

The two organisations thanked the general public, business community and transporters for observing the strike in Nushki, Mastung, Kalat, Washuk, Hub, Panjgur, Makran coastal belt, Kharan and Mach.

The BSF and BNF vowed to continue their struggle against dumping of bodies, enforced disappearances, alleged human rights violations and abduction of Zahid Baloch, chairman of the banned Baloch Student Organisation-Azad.

They criticised the Chinese developmental programme in Balochistan, saying Beijing’s economic assistance was aimed at attaining political influence in the province to counter Baloch movement.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2015

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