25 April 2004	Sunday	04 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, April 24: Pakistan Oppressed Nations' Movement (Ponam) has demanded election of a constituent assembly on the basis of equality of nations to frame a constitution in accordance with the spirit of the 1940 resolution which should guarantee to the national entities of the federation to be equal and sovereign of the multinational country.

The demand was made in one of the resolutions adopted at the Nishtar Park public meeting on Friday with Ponam president Sardar Attaullah Khan Mengal in the chair.

The meeting rejected the attempt of imposing supremacy of Punjabi imperialism and condemned all unconstitutional and illegal measures to deprive Sindhis, Seraikis, Pukhtuns and Balochs of their sovereignty and natural resources.

By another resolution the meeting observed that Greater Thal Canal, Kalabagh Dam and Gwadar mega projects were against the national identity of and interests of Sindhis, Seraikis, Pukhtuns and Balochs. Terming them the projects to takeover the resources of the nations the meeting demanded that the projects should immediately be dropped.

The establishment of cantonments in Balochistan, Sindh and in tribal areas of Pukhtunkhwa were aimed at strengthening the hegemony of Punjab as such all lands taken over for the purpose should be returned immediately.

The meeting demanded payment of royalty, excise duty and Gas Development Surcharge (GDS) outstanding against the federal government on account of power and tobacco of Pukhtunkhwa and oil, gas and minerals of Sindh and Balochistan.

The meeting rejected the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, terming it a source of plunder of the oppressed nations.

It termed price hike and increasing unemployment as the outcome of corruption and nepotism, and lawlessness and sectarianism the logical outcome of state terrorism and supremacy of Punjab's colonialism and condemned it.