By IANS

Lahore : A nationalist leader in Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province has asked people to observe a "black day" on Aug 14, when the country celebrates its 60th Independence Day.

Baloch leader Sardar Attaullah Khan Mengal said the decision not to celebrate the Independence Day was to protest against the "suppression of his supporters by the Pakistani government".

The Baloch leader alleged that a military operation was underway in the province for years in which a number of people, including chief of the Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, were killed.

"Therefore, we will observe a black day on Aug 14 to protest against the brutality committed against our people," The News Sunday quoted Mengal as saying.