Complete shutter down strike observed in Baloch majority areas on arrival of President Musharraf

www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php

QUETTA: Complete shutter down strike was observed in Baloch majority areas on the arrival of President Musharraf in Quetta on Thursday.

The shutter down call was observed on the call of BNP (Mengal) and National Party.

On the arrival of President Musharraf in Quetta, BNP Mengal and other nationalist parties of Balochistan announced for a complete shutter down strike against the death of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, ongoing military operation in Balochistan and arrest of political leaders and observing the day as Black Day.

In this regard, complete shutter down was observed in Baloch majority areas including Siryab road, Barori road, Hadda and other surrounding areas that of Mastung, Qalat, Khazdar, Noshaki, Dalbadin, Vidh, Turbat, Gwadar and Pinjghor.

On the other hand, black flags were hovering on top of public transport vehicles and flying high on buildings.

It is pertinent to mention that various nationalist parties fully supported BNP (Mengal) in this regard.

Heavy contingent of police was present at all the sensitive areas including Khazdar and Kalat where raiding teams arrested more than 60 persons including from BNP and National Party activists.

According to information received from Hub, unknown personnel fired rockets at Hub, however no loss of life or property was reported.

Meanwhile police have arrested 13 people along with General Secretary National Party Mir Hasil, MPA Rehmat Ali Baloch, Former Senator Aslam Beladi and Abdul Wahid Baloch for staging a hunger strike camp as protest against the arrival of President Musharraf and arrest of several political activists in the province on the death of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.

Talking to reporters, Mir Hasil said that National party has raised its voice against the unconstitutional and unlawful measures in the province.

He said that whenever President will come to Balochistan, we will stage a protest demonstration as we consider President Musharraf responsible for the martyrdom of several Balochis including Nawab Akbar Bugti.

We will never forgive those individuals who are welcoming the President and in turn making people of Balochistan live a more miserable life, he said we condemn the arrest of our activists who were arrested last night from Khazdar and Kalat and demand their immediate release.

Meanwhile stringent security measures were taken on the arrival of President Musharraf in Quetta.

Traffic was on a slow side and alternative routes were used to divide the traffic equally.

Heavy contingent of police and rangers guarded the sensitive areas while on the other hand common people had to wait for long hours as some of the roads were completely blocked in this connection.

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Crackdown on activists as Musharraf visits Quetta
Nirupama Subramanian

Opposition Baloch leaders arrested

www.hindu.com/2006/12/08/stories/2006120815261800.htm

ISLAMABAD: President Pervez Musharraf's visit to the Balochistan provincial capital Quetta on Thursday, his first since the killing of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti, was marked by a tough police crackdown on activists of nationalist parties that declared it a `black day' and called for a shutdown.

The Government responded by declaring the day a holiday, arresting several Opposition Baloch leaders, and saturating the city with security forces.

Gen. Musharraf, who announced Rs. 1 billion for the development of Quetta, and Rs. 100 million for each of the 28 districts in the Balochistan province, told a gathering that the development of Balochistan was essential for the progress of the entire country.

Regretting 50 years of neglect that had left the country's largest province underdeveloped, he pledged to make up for past negligence, and announced development projects, scholarships for students and other facilities.

"It is unfortunate that the areas that are a source of natural gas remained bereft in the past. Do not blame me for the past neglects ... I am here to provide you [with] all facilities," the President said. "My heart beats with the Baloch people and you are my source of strength."

But he also reiterated that the Government would not tolerate any challenge from insurgents. There is "only one Lashkar (army)" in Pakistan, and that is the Pakistan military, he said, in an allusion to tribal militias resisting the security forces in Balochistan.

Ahead of the visit, police arrested leaders and activists of the National Party, including its secretary-general Mir Hasil Bizenjo and a former senator from the party. The student wing of the National Party staged a demonstration against the visit. The run-up to the visit was marked by days of protests and strike calls by nationalist parties.

Last week, the police arrested several hundred activists of the Balochistan National Party, including its leader Akhtar Mengal.

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Dozens held during Balochistan protest

www.dawn.com/2006/12/08/top5.htm

By Amanullah Kasi

QUETTA, Dec 7: Almost all major shopping and trading centres in the provincial capital’s main market remained open on Thursday despite a strike call given by the Balochistan National Party (Mengal).

However, a BNP spokesman claimed that strike was observed in Baloch areas of the province.

Police did not allow leaders and activists of the National Party to observe a token hunger strike and arrested dozens of workers, including the party’s secretary-general Mir Hasil Bizenjo and MPA Rehmat Baloch in Quetta and Senator Dr Malik Baloch in Gwadar.

The provincial capital’s business community ignored the strike call and plazas, shops, business establishments and bazaars on Jinnah Road, Shahra-i-Iqbal, Mission Road, Zarghoon Road, Mechongy Road and Sirki Road and in Liaquat Bazaar remained open.

However, shops on Sariab Road, Joint Road and Brewery Road and in Hudda area were closed.

BNP-M labour secretary Agha Hasan Baloch said 50 activists of the party had been arrested in Quetta and Khuzdar.

He said the strike was successful in Mastung, Kalat, Khuzdar, Hub, Gwadar and Nushki.

The party observed a ‘black day’ and its supporters hoisted black flags on their homes and vehicles in protest against the visit of President Pervez Musharraf to Quetta.

About two dozen members of the National Party led by Mr Bizenjo went to the token hunger strike camp on Manan Road but police arrested Mir Bizenjo, MPA Rehmat Baloch, Wahid Baloch and 12 other activists.

National Party information secretary Dr Ishaq Baloch told newsmen that more than 100 members of the party had been taken into custody in different areas of the province.

He said Senator Dr Malik Baloch and 10 others had been arrested in Gwadar, former MNAs Dr Yasin Baloch, Shakeel Baloch and others in Turbat, former district nazim Sardar Aslam Bizenjo and 20 others in Khuzdar and Haji Saleh and 30 others in Panjgur.

Police also tried to arrest Leader of the Opposition in the Balochistan Assembly Kachkol Ali Baloch, ex-senator Mir Aslam Buledi and Dr Ishaq Baloch when they were leaving the Quetta Press Club after addressing a press conference. When Kachkol Baloch asked the police to show the arrest warrant or declare on what charge they were being arrested, an officer said the action was being taken under orders from the higher authorities.

During the altercation, the police officer received a mobile phone call and left without making the arrests, saying that there had been a misunderstanding.

Speaking at the press conference, Kachkol Baloch alleged that the federal government had been pursuing anti-Baloch policies for a long time to capture the resources and coastal areas of the Baloch people. He said that the worst action was the barbaric killing of nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti.

He said Balochistan had been the first province to launch political struggles against military rulers Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, Ziaul Haq and now Gen Musharraf for restoration of democratic order in the country.

He said National Party workers had observed hunger strike in Quetta and other areas of the province in protest against the president’s visit to the provincial capital.

Condemning the arrests of workers of the National Party and the BNP-M, he said giving a call for protest was a constitutional and democratic right of the parties.

He said political workers and the citizens had political and democratic rights guaranteed by the constitution to express resentment against the anti-people policies of the government.

He said the arrests in Quetta, Gwadar, Hub, Dera Murad Jamali and other areas were aimed at harassing people but the coercive actions of the oppressors would not succeed in suppressing the political movement of the Baloch masses.

Activists of the Baloch Students Organisation held a demonstration outside the press club in protest against the president’s visit.

They condemned the ongoing military operation in Balochistan and arrests of Baloch youths and political activists.

The protesters raised slogans against the president and the government.

BSO leaders Zakir Baloch and Salam Sabir Baloch said that the struggle against the usurpers would continue till the Baloch achieved sovereignty and their national rights.

They said that besides, Nawab Akbar Bugti, hundreds of activists had been eliminated in the military operation.

They said that their movement was for freedom of the Baloch from the usurpers who had been looting the resources of Balochistan.

They said that the Baloch would not forgive so-called Baloch who attended the meeting of the military ruler and supported the anti-Baloch development projects.


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Baloch nationalists observe black day

www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp
Staff Report

QUETTA: Various Baloch nationalist parties observed a black day and a province-wide shutter down strike on Thursday on the eve of President Pervez Musharraf’s three-day visit to Balochistan.

Meanwhile, police continued operation against Baloch leaders, rounding up several National Party (NP) leaders and some 80 workers.

The strike, called by the National Party and backed by Balochistan National Party, Jamhoori Watan Party, Pakhtoonkhaw Milli Awami Party, Jamaat-e-Islami and the Baloch Students Organisation, the strike, was meant to protest the killing of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, the ongoing military operation in Balochistan, construction of cantonments and mysterious disappearances of Baloch youths. The response to the strike call was mixed in Quetta, but it was a success in Panjgur, Kharan, Turbat, Khuzdar, Noshki and Mastung districts and Mand tehsil. Police arrested NP Secretary General Mir Hasil Bezanjo and MPA Rehmat Baloch to fail their hunger strikes in front of various press clubs.

In Turbat, police arrested NP Senator Abdul Malik Baloch, former MNA Dr Yasin Baloch, Akram Baloch and former Turbat district nazim Mullah Dashti when they were protesting against Musharraf’s Balochistan tour

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QUETTA: Complete shutter down strike was observed in Baloch majority areas on the arrival of President Musharraf in Quetta on Thursday.
The shutter down call was observed on the call of BNP (Mengal) and National Party.

On the arrival of President Musharraf in Quetta, BNP Mengal and other nationalist parties of Balochistan announced for a complete shutter down strike against the death of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, ongoing military operation in Balochistan and arrest of political leaders and observing the day as Black Day.

In this regard, complete shutter down was observed in Baloch majority areas including Siryab road, Barori road, Hadda and other surrounding areas that of Mastung, Qalat, Khazdar, Noshaki, Dalbadin, Vidh, Turbat, Gwadar and Pinjghor.

On the other hand, black flags were hovering on top of public transport vehicles and flying high on buildings.

It is pertinent to mention that various nationalist parties fully supported BNP (Mengal) in this regard.

Heavy contingent of police was present at all the sensitive areas including Khazdar and Kalat where raiding teams arrested more than 60 persons including from BNP and National Party activists.

According to information received from Hub, unknown personnel fired rockets at Hub, however no loss of life or property was reported.

Meanwhile police have arrested 13 people along with General Secretary National Party Mir Hasil, MPA Rehmat Ali Baloch, Former Senator Aslam Beladi and Abdul Wahid Baloch for staging a hunger strike camp as protest against the arrival of President Musharraf and arrest of several political activists in the province on the death of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.

Talking to reporters, Mir Hasil said that National party has raised its voice against the unconstitutional and unlawful measures in the province.

He said that whenever President will come to Balochistan, we will stage a protest demonstration as we consider President Musharraf responsible for the martyrdom of several Balochis including Nawab Akbar Bugti.

We will never forgive those individuals who are welcoming the President and in turn making people of Balochistan live a more miserable life, he said we condemn the arrest of our activists who were arrested last night from Khazdar and Kalat and demand their immediate release.

Meanwhile stringent security measures were taken on the arrival of President Musharraf in Quetta.

Traffic was on a slow side and alternative routes were used to divide the traffic equally.

Heavy contingent of police and rangers guarded the sensitive areas while on the other hand common people had to wait for long hours as some of the roads were completely blocked in this connection.

End.
www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml

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US warns citizens against visiting Pak due to "increased danger of terrorism"
www.dailyindia.com/show/90844.php/US-warns-citizens-against-visiting-Pak-due-to-increased-danger-of-terrorism
Washington, Dec 8 (ANI): In the wake of an "increased danger of terrorism" in Pakistan, the US State Department has warned Americans against travelling to the country.




According to a Voice of America (VoA) report, the US State Department said in a statement that the presence of al Qaeda, Taliban and sectarian elements was a threat to Americans, especially the ones in border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

It said that increasing tensions in the Middle East had raised the possibility of violence for American citizens in Pakistan.

Pakistan's northern areas, including Balochistan and Baltistan, have been facing a lot of sectarian violence for the past few months, especially after the killing of Nawab Bugti. Besides, the porouos Pak-Afghan border has also posed problems acting like a free transit point for terrorists belonging to the Taliban and al Qaeda. (ANI)

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Balochistan development Musharraf seeks (SAY BEGGING) nationalists’ help


Announces Rs 1bn package for Quetta; says no Lashkar other than Pak Army; offers jobs to youths

www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp

By Muhammad Ejaz Khan

QUETTA: Reiterating his resolve to bringing Balochistan at par with other developed parts of the country, President Pervez Musharraf on Thursday said he was committed to doing “everything” for the province, urging the Baloch nationalists to support him in the development process.

“Pakistan’s future and development is linked with Balochistan, and no one should have any doubt in this regard,”
COMMENT: YES , PAKISTAN IS PUNJABI ELITE , LOOTING IN THE NAME OF ISLAM , DISMEMBER PAKISTAN .. WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO BALOCHISTAN IN 50 YEARS , except POVERTY .... ?

said the president while addressing a public meeting held at the Railway Hockey Ground here on Thursday. “It is now up to the Balochistan people whether they support me in the development process or want to remain backward,”-- SUPPORT YOU .... WHY ? INSTEAD BALOCH SHOULD SCre@#$ YOU he said.

Musharraf asked the people of Balochistan to see for themselves the unprecedented development initiated by the government in all sectors. “My heart beats with my Baloch brethren, and you are a source of my strength,”..." WOWOWO DID HE TOOK ACTING CLASSES FROM ANY BOLLYWOOD ... sorry LOLLYWOOD DIRECTOR ???
he added amid loud applause. ( FUC MUSH SUPPORTERS)
Despite the chilly weather, hundreds of government employees and other people attended the meeting and enthusiastically responded to the announcements made by the president for the people of the province.

The president announced Rs 1 billion for the development of Quetta, Rs 100 million each for the 28 districts besides Rs 2.5 billion for the parliamentarians to carry out uplift schemes in their respective constituencies.

The president also announced seven new cadet colleges, two more campuses of the Balochistan University at Gwadar and Turbat, 1,000 scholarships for Baloch students, enabling them to study in the best schools and colleges of the country, with free boarding and lodging.

“However, I will urge the young students from Balochistan to focus on their studies, seek higher education and work for their country and betterment of their families,” he said and pledged more funds in future if needed.

Musharraf said Balochistan would be given its due share. He added that he has always supported the province and would continue to do so. “I’m sincere in removing the backwardness of the province,” he said.

Referring to the Lashkar-e-Balochistan — a proposed long march — that was to be launched by the Balochistan National Party, Musharraf asserted that there was no Lashkar (army) other than the Pakistan Army. He invited those who wanted to launch the Lashkar-e-Balochistan to join him in the development of Balochistan.

“It is the era of the development of Balochistan,” IT IS THE ERA OF LOOTING AND DECIMATION OF A NATION /ETHNICITY CALLED BALOCH , WHICH BALOCH WILL RAISE AND OPPOSE the president said and reiterated that the province would be brought at par with the Punjab in terms of development. President Musharraf said he had already apologised for the injustices done by the past rulers with Balochistan. He wondered, “Why a few elements have grievances against me when I’m committed to steering the province out of backwardness and developing it on sound footings!” “They should have complaints against those who kept this part of the country backward, not against me.”

He said we should think beyond the 1970s when an insurgency was raging in Balochistan and the people living on mountains. “I was a witness to the situation,” he said and asked what benefit the people had got from that situation. Consequently, when he took over in 1999 he observed the same backwardness in the province that was 50 years ago.

Musharraf said he was pained to see the prevailing situation in Balochistan but has made up his mind to develop it. The president said he was not scared of any threats and didn’t believe in hollow slogans. However, he vowed that both the Baloch and the Pakhtun would be taken to an era of development.

He announced six new buses for the Balochistan University, saying all those students who have completed 16 years of education would get an annual stipend of Rs 10,000. He also announced quota for students of vocational training institutions besides special training courses for the Baloch youth at the Pakistan Ordnance Factories, Wah, the Aeronautical Complex, Kamra, and the Heavy Mechanical Industries, Taxila. These youth would be employed on a regular basis after the completion of their training, he said.

Musharraf said 1,400 villages would be electrified this year, to be followed by another 2,000 next year, while the remotest areas would be provided with electricity by 2009. Electricity imported from Iran is being supplied to Panjgur, Pasni, Turbat and Gwadar, while supply of natural gas would also be extended to other areas, he said and announced gas supply for Urak and Hanna in Quetta and Zhob. “It’s unfortunate that the areas that are a source of natural gas remained bereft of this facility in the past. Do not blame me for the past neglects ... I’m here to provide you with all facilities,” the president said.

He regretted the 50 years of neglect which left the country’s largest province underdeveloped, and vowed to make up for the past neglect. The president, who earlier inaugurated a modern Kidney Centre and an Overseas Pakistanis Foundation Girls College, said a string of development projects were in the pipeline.

Musharraf also greeted the people of Balochistan for the re-opening of the Chamalang mines, which had been closed 33 years ago after a dispute between the Luni and Murri tribes over the ownership of the mines.

He said the government was working to put in place a comprehensive road network to ensure that the benefits of development reach every corner of the country. New roads linking Loralai with DG Khan and Zhob with DI Khan were being built, he said, adding that the RCD Highway, the Indus Highway and the Motorway were being upgraded to improve trade links with Iran, Afghanistan and China.

He also vowed that the Sibi-Kohlu road, which couldn’t be built during the last 30 years, would be constructed. Referring to the Rs 7 billion amount allocated for supply of safe drinking water, Musharraf said Balochistan would be given Rs 2 billion. “The rich can always afford bottled water, but I’m working to provide clean water to the poor who cannot afford the costly bottled water,” he added.

Describing the next general elections as crucial for the future of Pakistan, the president urged the people to vote for those who were supporting him (president), as this could ensure smooth implementation of the government’s development agenda.

Referring to the Gwadar deep seaport, the president said it was very important for the country. It would be linked with the rest of the country via road and the Central Asian Republics through railway line. He said work on an international airport in Gwadar would be started soon.

He also announced the Kachi canal project would be completed by 2008 at a cost of Rs 40 billion. Also present in the public meeting were Balochistan Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani, Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousaf, federal ministers Sardar Yar Muhammad Rind, Zubaida Jalal, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, ministers of State Raza Hayat Hiraj, Muhammad Naseer Mengal, parliamentarians, provincial ministers and MPAs, besides the Corps Commander Quetta, Lt-Gen Hamid Rab Nawaz, Nazim Quetta Mir Maqbool Ahmed Lehri, the chief secretary, the IGP Balochistan, and senior civil and military officials.