QUETTA, April 2: Balochistan National Party Chairman Akhtar Mengal has said the Baloch people will continue to struggle till the recognition of their right of ownership of the resources of the province. Speaking at a public meeting organised by his party at Mannan Chowk here on Sunday, he said the military operation or arrests of political workers would neither weaken the struggle for national rights nor force them to compromise the principle of sovereignty.

Thousands of BNP workers from different parts of Balochistan had earlier gathered in the suburban area of Sariab from where they marched to the venue of the meeting.

“The Baloch people, and not President Musharraf, have the right to take decisions about development projects in the province,” Mr Mengal said.

He said that the struggle was not aimed at securing privileges for three Sardars, as was being alleged by the government, but for liberating the Baloch people.

He said the country had become a prison for the Baloch people and the way out of the prison was paved with trials and tribulations. Therefore, the masses had to be prepared for sacrifices and an organised struggle to achieve victory, he added.

Saying the development projects were not for the sons of soil, he asked if the development of Gwadar was in the interest of the Baloch people, why had the people observed a shutter-down in the town during a recent visit by President Musharraf.

National Party chief Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch, JWP leader Amanullah Kanrani, PMAP secretary-general Akram Shah, PPP leader Nawab Aslam Raisani and Awami National Party leader Arbab Zahir Kasi also addressed the meeting.

RESOLUTIONS: A resolution, adopted at the meeting, appealed to the United Nations, European Union and international human rights organisations to take notice of the military operation, human rights and usurpation of resources in Balochistan.

The resolution said the Baloch people would not abide by agreements signed with foreign countries about the resources and Gwadar port as the accords were made without the consent of the Baloch leadership.