20 January 2004	Tuesday	27 Ziqa'ad 1424

KARACHI, Jan 19: The Pakistan Oppressed Nations' Movement (Ponam) has called an all-party conference in Islamabad for Feb 22 to deliberate on the 17th constitutional amendment and devise a strategy to safeguard the rights of small provinces.

This was announced by the Ponam convener, Sardar Attaullah Khan Mengal, at a press conference on Monday afternoon. He said the fact that every government in the past had amended the 1973 constitution had vindicated their stand that the basic law was incomplete. He demanded that a constitutional assembly be elected on the basis of equal representation to all the provinces so that a new constitution be framed which gave equal financial, legislative and executive powers to the provinces.

Briefing newsmen about the decisions taken by Ponam at a meeting held on Sunday, Mr Mengal said the party had rejected the 17th amendment after taking into consideration its implications. He added that political parties belonging to different schools of thought would be invited to devise a common strategy. He added that if the all-party conference failed to reach consensus, Ponam would launch a campaign to safeguard the rights of smaller provinces.

Mr Mengal regretted that its demand for curbs on the powers of the Centre was misconstrued as an anti-Punjab stance. He made clear that Ponam had always supported the oppressed people of Punjab.

The Ponam chief observed that the Centre had no authority to take decisions on the Greater Thal Canal, Kalabagh Dam and Gwader Project. He added that such decisions should be taken by those people who lived in the areas where these projects would be executed. He said the people of small provinces had decided to agitate for their rights.

Answering a question, Mr Mengal said the Muttahida Quami Movement was willing to join Ponam, with the proviso that it was accepted as a nationality like others. He said that this was not within Ponam's power.

In reply to a question, he said he would urge financial institutions not to finance controversial projects in Pakistan. He observed that Pakistan belonged to the masses and not to the army.

Those present at the press conference included Mehmood Khan Achakzai of the Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party, Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal of the Balochistan National Party, Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch of the National Party, Mohammad Afzal Khan of the Pakhtoonkhwa Qaumi Party, Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah of the Sindh Thinkers Forum, Dr Quadir Magsi of the Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party, Hameed Asghar Shaheen of the Seraiki Movement, Azhar Jatoi of the Sindh Hari Committee and M. Bhutta of the Seraiki National Party.