ISLAMABAD, Feb 24: The Pakistan Oppressed Nationalists Movement (PONM) has demanded dissolution of assemblies, holding of fresh elections for a constituent assembly under the 1940 resolution
to draw up a new social contract among the federating units and framing of a new constitution which should give complete autonomy to the provinces.
The demands were made on Tuesday at the general council of PONM, a conglomerate of nationalist parties of Balochistan, the NWFP, Sindh and Saraiki speaking areas. PONM wanted to hold the general council's meeting at Balochistan house, but its access was denied and the meeting was held at the parliament lodges.
The movement said that the "Musharraf-MMA nexus" had passed the 17th amendment thereby perpetuating military rule and a presidential unitary form of the government in the country. The PONM leaders said that they would launch a movement to expose the nexus and to get rid of the present system.
Earlier, the main leaders of PONM were not allowed to speak at a seminar organized by the organization at the parliament lodges on Saturday which forced them to hold the seminar in the open in front of the parliament house.
Talking to reporters after the general council meeting, former Balochistan chief minister Sardar Ataullah Khan Mengal said: "We demand immediate handing over of national financial resources to the respective provinces leaving only defence, foreign affairs and currency for the centre."
He alleged that majority of the members of present assemblies were not the representatives of their people, but of the (intelligence) agencies. Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Dr Qadir Magsi and Jalal Shah were also present at the news briefing.
Mr Mengal said that PONM wanted immediate halt to work on Gwadar port and the cantonment being constructed there. He wondered if the army was increasing the number of cantonments in the country to ultimately conquer the nation.
PONM general council also rejected the greater Thal canal and Kalabagh dam projects terming them as destructive for the smaller units. Referring to the ongoing India-Pakistan overtures, Mr Mengal said that it was good to see closing of ranks by the two old rivals, but it should be kept in mind, he added, that when "we used to support such talks we were called traitors".
He said that operation was continuing in Dera Bugti, houses were being demolished and every structure being destroyed to pave way for the construction of a cantonment. He alleged the ISI for fanning discord between Pukhtun and Baloch population of Balochistan, but both the nationalities, he claimed, had decided to remain united and fight for their rights.
PONM passed resolutions condemning action against the organization's leaders and registration of cases against them. A resolution termed it a breach of the right of legislators as well as an attempt to curb human liberties.
Another resolution condemned MMA-Musharraf coalition for the passage of 17th amendment and expressed the determination to continue its struggle against the imperialist forces. It also opposed and rejected the police order and local government ordinance terming the two as a flagrant violation of provincial autonomy.
