Quetta Rally: BNP demands provincial control over mega projects

Party chief Akhtar Mengal seeks complete power of Baloch people on their mineral resources and coast

QUETTA: Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal has called upon the federal government to let the people of Balochistan decide the fate of Gwadar port or any other mega project in the province.

Mengal said the party favours complete control of the Baloch people on their mineral resources and coast. “Every move against the interests of the Baloch people will be resisted with full strength,” the ex-CM said addressing a public gathering at Shawani Stadium in Saryab area of Quetta on Sunday.

Mengal said his party believes in carrying out a peaceful struggle and is aware that issues can never be resolved at gunpoint or by using brute force.

The stadium was packed with over 15,000 people. It was seen as the largest political gathering in recent years in the violence-hit province. Convoys of BNP activists from different areas of Balochistan had rolled into Quetta for the show of strength.

Mengal, who was chief minister of Balochistan between February 1997 and June 1998, said that the settlement of migrant workers linked with development projects was affecting the demography of the province. “We will oppose any project which is meant to turn the local people into minority,” he said.

“We have researched and thoroughly read every agreement inked in recent years regarding Gwadar-Kashgar Economic Corridor but found nothing for Balochistan,” he said.

He said this huge gathering is ample proof of the popularity of BNP in Balochistan.

He claimed that an ethnic party is trying to take advantage of the deteriorating law and order situation and providing national identity cards to Afghan immigrants and refugees. The local Pashtun people have been compelled to migrate to Karachi because of influx of Afghan refugees. “We will not accept any census in the presence of illegal Afghan immigrants who have managed to obtain Pakistani identity cards, run businesses and buy tall buildings and even get elected as councillors in recent local bodies’ elections,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st,  2015.