September 3, 2003	Wednesday	Rajab 5, 1424

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QUETTA, Sept 2: The Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) warned the government on Tuesday that implementation of controversial projects, include the Gwadar port, Thal canal, Kalabagh dam and construction of new cantonments in Balochistan, would jeopardize the country’s integrity.

Speaking at a press conference, former chief minister Mir Hamayun Marri, the parliamentary leader of the JWP in Senate, Amanullah Kanrani, and Haji Juma Khan Bugti, the party’s leader in the Balochistan Assembly, claimed that former governor Quadir Baloch had refused to support the government’s military plans in the province.

They alleged that a conspiracy had been hatched in a meeting in Islamabad, presided over by President Gen Pervez Musharraf and attended by the vice-chief of the army staff, the corps commander, the prime minister and the chief minister, to suppress the opponents of the exploration of resources and Gwadar port.

They said the federating units were not conquered areas and the federation could not act without their consent.

They said the NWFP, Sindh and Balochistan assemblies had passed resolutions against the Kalabagh dam, the Sindh Assembly had rejected the Thal canal project, the Balochistan Assembly had demanded that the Gwadar port should be run by the provincial government.

They said the federation had to respect the will of the provinces.

They said efforts were being made to usurp oil and gas in Kohlu and Dera Bugti, construct Gwadar port for international exploiters and separate 700km coastal belt from Gadani to Jewani from Balochistan to establish a the biggest naval base in South Asia under American control.

They expressed concern over reports that international exploiters would be imposed in Gwadar in the name of mega projects and military operations would be conducted in Dera Bugti, Kohlu, Chamalang and Jhalawan. They said the Baloch people would thwart the evil designs of the usurpers.

The JWP leaders accused the government of planning to deploy 4,000 military troops and 2,000 militiamen in addition to the 4,000 Bhambore Rifles men for an operation in Dera Bugti.

They said the federal government would not be permitted to infringe the provincial autonomy of Balochistan, the NWFP and Sindh.

They said the military rulers should not forget that army actions had led to separation of East Pakistan after persistent denial of autonomy to the Bengali people.

They said use of such tactics against the smaller provinces would endanger the federation.

The JWP, the Balochistan National Party (Mengal) and the Balochistan National Movement had joined hands to struggle against the anti-Baloch rulers, they said and urged other parties to form a platform to protect the national rights.