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KALAT, Balochistan: A grand Baloch Tribal Jirga of Balochistan's upper Parliament (Dar-ul-umrah)
was held here on Thursday September 26, 2006 after about 126 years, announced in a declaration that a case
would be filed in the International Court of Justice against the illegal occupation of Balochistan, Exploitations of
Baloch resources and gross human right Violation in Balochistan against Baloch Nation by Pakistani occupying
forces.

The Khan of Kalat, King of Balochistan, Mir Suleman Daud Ahmedzai, presided over the jirga held in the Royal
Palace (Shahi Hall). It was attended by 85 tribal chiefs and about 300 elders.

The declaration expressed concern over the ‘colonial occupation’ of the Baloch land by Punjab in violation of
the accord signed by the state of Kalat and the government of Pakistan in 1948.

The declaration was read out by the chief of Jhalawan, Sardar Sanaullah Zehri. It described the ongoing
military operation in Balochistan as state terrorism and called for an immediate end to the operation and
release all arrested political workers.

It rejected the Sui tribal jirga’s decision to abolish the Sardari system in the Bugti area and termed the action
taken at the behest of the government an interference in tribal affairs and said that tribal matters should be
resolved in accordance with customs and traditions.

The declaration said that the jirga recognised the heirs of Nawab Akbar Bugti as legitimate owners of the
property of the deceased, adding that it would resist allotment of the property to anyone other than the heirs.

The jirga condemned the tragic incident of Aug 26 in which Nawab Bugti was killed and demanded an
investigation into the cause of his death by the International Human Rights Commission to ascertain the factual
position.

The declaration rejected the mega development projects, including the Gwadar uplift programme, and said that
the Baloch people would not accept the agreements signed by the government with international companies.

The declaration demanded reunification of all divided Baloch lands into one entity.

In his speech, the Khan of Kalat said that the presence of so many sardars in the Baloch national jirga belied
the claim of President Pervez Musharraf that 72 tribal chiefs were supporting his policy. He asserted that all
Baloch people would abide the decision of the jirga.

Chief of Sarawan Nawab Aslam Raisani said that in accordance with the 1940 Resolution, all nationalities
should get their rights, and except currency, foreign affairs, defence and communications all subjects should
be transferred to provinces.

He said that after capturing power, President Musharraf had assured to work for promoting harmony, but now
the military rulers wanted to resolve issues at gun-point. He said that if Kashmiris fighting for their rights were
called freedom fighters, the Baloch should not be dubbed terrorists.

Sardar Sanaullah Zehri said that the Baloch people were unfortunate that despite having abundant resources,
long coasts and a rich culture, they were being oppressed by outsiders who had occupied their land. The use
of gun, he said, could suppress them for some time but they would again rise for their rights.

Chief of BNP (Mengal) Sardar Akhtar Mengal said that the Khan of Kalat had gathered all the Baloch at a time
when the attention of international and regional powers was focused on Balochistan.

Sardar Mengal said that the Baloch people would live with honour, dignity and equal rights and with complete
control over their resources. Otherwise, he warned, they would be free to take a decision to protect their
sovereign status.

Chief of Magsi tribe Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi said that had the grand jirga been convened when security forces
attacked Nawab Bugti, and not after his death, the situation would have been different today. He said that some
forces were trying to exploit the matter politically.

He also said that no-one must forget that “we had taken oath as governors, chief ministers and ministers on
the Constitution that we are now opposing”. He called for abiding by the decision of the jirga. Nawab
Muhammad Khan Shahwani, Dr Hakim Lehri, chief of Balochistan National Congress, Sardar Asif Mengal,
Sardarzada Jehanzeb, Mir Amanullah Zarakzai, Sardar Nadir Badini, Sardar Rahimdad Lango, BSO chairman
Mohinuddin Baloch, Yousuf Masti Khan, Sardar Balkhsher Mazari, Amanullah Kanrani of the JWP, Mir Taj
Muhammad Jamali, Sardar Aslam Bizenjo, Baloch Students Organisation chairman Bashirzeb Baloch and
Sardar Sher Jamaldini also addressed the Jirga.

Speaking over the phone to His highness King Mir Suleman Dawood Jaan, Dr. Wahid Baloch, President of BSO-
NA congratulated him for convening this historic Grand Baloch Jirga and extended full support to the decision
of the Jirga to take Balochistan's case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). " We are proud of your great
leadership and we are full behind your highness to defend our Nation in the International Court of Justice
against the occupiers and killers of Baloch Nation," he told the khan of Kalat. Dr. Wahid Baloch also spoke and
congratulated Saradar Akhtar Jaan Mengal, who was also present at the occasion, and thanked him for his
great leadership.