BALOCHISTAN Chief Minister's brother and PPP provincial leader Senator Lashkari Raisani has resigned from the Upper House of Parliament, giving expression to the growing anger among fellow Baloch nationalists against the repressive policies of the present government. "If I cannot help the people of my province I don't deserve to be a senator," Mr Raisani said, while making it clear that his brother had nothing to do with the decision. The Baloch Senator had a point in saying that the current democratic dispensation was pursuing the policies of the Musharraf Government, which had subjected the Baloch to the worst kind of repression merely for seeking protection of their lives and rights. Mr Raisani trained his guns on Interior Minister Rehman Malik at a time when the entire province erupted into violence against the latter, who cast aspersions on the patriotism of the Baloch leaders killed in Turbat earlier this month. Complete shutterdown and wheeljam strike was observed in Quetta and other big cities and towns of Balochistan on Sunday on the call given by the Baloch National Front. The Karachi-Quetta Highway remained blocked, but luckily no casualty took place in the ensuing clashes between the law enforcement agency and the angry mob, which turned violent and damaged government offices, besides setting many vehicles on fire. The nationalist leaders termed the strike successful and thanked the people for their overwhelming response to the strike call. The Baloch, who have been up in arms against the repressive policies of the Musharraf government, failed to find any relief in the last one year of the democratic rule. Mr Raisani's resignation should serve as an eye-opener for President Asif Zardari, whose apology to the people of Balochistan has left much to be desired. It bears repeating that the government's current approach of treating the Baloch as aliens would only lend strength to the separatist elements who are calling for the province's secession from Pakistan.