Baloch leader refutes govt's tall claims LAHORE: Senator Dr Abdul Malik, a National Party leader from Turbat, alleged on Monday that the government had arrested four thousand Balochs and left more than 0.1 million people homeless after the military operation in Dera Bugti. Addressing a seminar organised by the Minority's Rights Commission of Pakistan (MRCP) and Actionaid Pakistan to commemorate the death anniversary of Bishop John Joseph at Lahore Press Club, Dr Abdul Malik, in his address, said that the Balochs were fighting for their rights and claims that that they were getting foreign support were merely propaganda. He said that the present government had conducted military operations against the Balochs because they refused to reconcile with the government's anti-democratic and anti-developmental policies in the province. The senator claimed that the government had tried to pressurise Baloch leaders, including Akbar Bugti, several times to agree to a compromise, but he had refused to bow before their pressure because Baloch leaders were committed to their people and democracy. He refuted the government's claims of extraordinary development in Balochistan and said that more that 75 percent of Balochs did not have access to potable water, while 80 percent of the people of Balochistan were living without electricity. "Even the governor's and chief minister's houses are supplied water through tankers," he said. Dr Malik said that more than 100,000 people had been rendered homeless due to military bombardment at Dera Bugti, while people had been forced to live in open grounds in Sibi and Naseerabad. Addressing the seminar, MRCP Vice-Chairman Handry Baloch said that there was no religious freedom in Pakistan and minorities were discriminated against. This was evident from the fact that had been denied representation in the Senate, he said. The MRCP vice-chairman, PPP leader Ghulam Abbas, Pakistan Social Forum Secretary General Irfan Mufti and others also led a protest march after the seminar. Reverend sisters from different churches of Lahore also participated in the protest in front of the Lahore Press Club. The protesters chanted slogans against mulla-ism, inflation and the sugar crisis.