September 24, 2003	Wednesday	Rajab 26, 1424

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

QUETTA, Sept 23: The Balochistan Assembly on Tuesday adopted a resolution against the establishment of cantonments in various areas of the province.

The resolution also called for abolition of the Frontier Corps checkposts and withdrawal of troops from the areas adjacent to the border with Afghanistan.

The session, presided over by Speaker Jamal Shah Kakar, witnessed a heated debate on the resolution tabled as an adjournment motion by opposition leader Kachkol Ali Baloch against the construction of cantonments in Sui, Kohlu, and Gwadar areas.

Mr Baloch alleged that the province was not being taken into confidence over development projects by the federal government. He accused the federal authorities of projecting and defending interests of one province at the cost of smaller provinces.

The adjournment motion was converted into a resolution on the proposal of opposition leader after treasury benches expressed their willingness to include an amendment by senior minister Maulana Wasay seeking withdrawal of troops from the areas close to the Afghan border and abolition of checkposts set up by the Frontier Corps.

Chief Minister Jam Yousuf, ministers and other members belonging to the PML-Q were not present in the house when the Speaker put the resolution for adoption.

Speaking on the occasion, senior provincial minister Maulana Wasay criticized the federal government, which he alleged was safeguarding the US interests in the region at the cost of national interests.

He also condemned military’s involvement in politics, and stated that by helping Washington in toppling the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, the country’s western borders had been made unsafe.

Maulana Wasay said due to differences among the political parties, the military had been running the country’s political affairs for the last four decades, adding that the problems confronted by the people were the outcome of the wrong policies of the military rulers.

The senior minister further said that it was astonishing that on the one hand the federal government was reluctant to grant funds for the development projects in the province, but on the other it doled out huge sum to build cantonments in Sui, Kohlu, and Gwadar areas.

Opposition leader Kachkol Ali Baloch alleged that the United States was usurping the national wealth of the weak states by forcing them to prepare plans under the umbrella of the World Bank and the IMF.

He stated that all political forces must join hands to foil this conspiracy and protect our resources so that they could be used for the benefit of the local people.

Parliamentary leader of the Balochistan National Democratic Party Sardar Sanaullah Zehri alleged that cantonments were being established to quell the campaign against the mega projects, adding that these projects were aimed at depriving the Baloch people of their wealth.

Referring to the separation of East Pakistan, he said the rulers should learn from the past mistakes. Mr Zehri warned against any plan to launch a military operation in Balochistan and said results of such an exercise would be disastrous.

Parliamentary leader of PMAP Abdur Rahim Ziaratwal said that the Pakthun and the Baloch were united in their opposition to the establishment of cantonments, Kalabagh dam and the Thal canal projects.

Haji Juma Khan Bugti of the JWP alleged that cantonments were being established to plunder the natural resources of Dera Bugti, Kohlu and other areas of Balochistan.