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Baloch leaders for pre-1947 status

Nirupama Subramanian

Jirgato move ICJ on territorial integrity

ISLAMABAD: A grand jirga of 95 Baloch tribal chiefs and 300 other prominent Baloch leaders has said it will move the International Court of Justice against what it termed the violation of its "territorial integrity, exploitation of Balochistan's natural resources, denial of the Baloch right to the ownership of their resources and the military operation in the province."

A declaration adopted by the jirga, reportedly the first in 126 years, protested the "colonial occupation' of Baloch land by Pakistan. It was held in Kalat, near the Baloch provincial capital Quetta.

The Khan of Kalat, whose ancestor signed the accession of the former princely state of Kalat with Pakistan, presided over the jirga.

Violation of agreement

The accession was a package deal that incorporated three other neighbouring states into Balochistan. The jirga condemned Pakistan for repeated violations of the agreement which had promised complete autonomy to Balochistan.

The declaration condemned the killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, and called for an immediate end to the military operation, which it described as state terrorism. It also demanded the immediate release of all political prisoners.

The jirga rejected the decision by a Bugti clan — rival to the late Nawab and propped up by the Government — to abolish the sardari system, describing it as interference by the Government in tribal affairs.

The declaration also rejected all the "mega projects" started by the Government in Balochistan, such as the Gwadar port, and said the Baloch would not accept agreements signed between the Government and international companies.

It demanded a reunification of all Baloch areas, now distributed between Punjab and Sindh.

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