Staff Reporter:
QUETTA: National Party (NP) on Friday announced to stage protest demonstrations against the Reko Diq agreement on December 18 across the country. NP Chief and former chief minister, Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch made this announcement while addressing a press conference. Other senior NP leaders were also present on the occasion.
Dr. Baloch lashed out at the Pakistan Muslim League (N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) and said these parties deceived the masses of the province through this agreement. He reiterated that the Reko Diq project belongs to the people of Balochistan as per the 1973 constitution and the historic 18th amendment.
NP to politically resist government
He said the NP would politically and democratically resist the attempts of the federal government for what he called snatching the coast and mineral resources of Balochistan. He recalled that Baloch leaders have rendered great sacrifices for the protection of the coast and resources in the past.
“We would not allow anyone to swallow these resources”, he warned. Dr. Baloch said the NP would launch a protest movement along with all political parties and civil society to mount pressure on the government to protect the rights of the people of Balochistan in the agreement.
Reko Diq is our children’s future: Dr. Malik
“Reko Diq is our children’s future and we would not make any compromise over this”, Dr. Baloch said. He urged the NP leaders and workers to forge unity among their ranks and foil the conspiracies of rulers against oppressed people of the country.
The NP Chief also rejected a resolution adopted by the Balochistan Assembly in this regard and termed it an attempt by the government and what he called the friendly opposition to deceive the masses. “Rulers are frightened to share the details about the agreement”, he said.
Dr. Baloch’s criticism has come a day after the federal and provincial governments finalized an agreement with the Barrick Gold Corporation (BGC) about the giant gold-copper project.
