10 July 2004	Saturday	21 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

HYDERABAD, July 9: The president of the Sindh chapter of the Pakistan Oppressed Nations' Movement and the chairman of the Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party, Dr Qadir Magsi, has condemned what he called an operation launched against nationalist forces in Balochistan.

In a statement issued here on Thursday, he said that the operation was aimed at crushing the Baloch rights' movement. He said that oppressed nations would not give up struggle for their constitutional rights. Mr Magsi said that rulers have no reason to launch a military operation in Balochistan. He advised them to learn a lesson from the East Pakistan debacle.

JSMM: The Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz has condemned the police raid on the house of the vice-chairman of the party, Khalil Khaskheli, in Tando Mohammad Khan. Speaking at a news conference at the local press club on Thursday, party leaders, Sikandar Soomro, Munawar Mari and Aslam Saharan, alleged that policemen some of them in civvies conducted the raid at 4am on Thursday.

They said that the police closed entry and exist points of Mir Mohallo and entered the house of party vice-chairman Khalil Khaskheli for his arrest. They alleged that the mother of Mr Khaskheli, his wife and other women were severely beaten up with rifle butts.

They said that as Mr Khaskheli was not present in the house, the police picked up his brother Imran Khaskheli, cousin Masood Khaskheli and nephew Shahid Khaskheli. They said that arrested persons had been held incommunicado.

They alleged that the police had unleashed a reign of terror against the leadership of party as a result the main leaders had been forced to go underground. They alleged that Punjab wanted to grab Balochistan and Sindh's wealth.

They alleged that Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and President Gen Pervez Musharraf had anti-Sindh policies on their agenda and they wanted to eliminate those forces which were opposing the construction of Kalabagh dam and greater Thal canal.

They alleged that in furtherance of its designs the 'imperialist Punjab' had decided to launch a military operation in Sindh and Balochistan. They said that this was the reason that Mr Jamali had to be removed.

They demanded release of activists of all nationalist parties. They announced that a series of protest demonstrations and hunger strikes would be held throughout Sindh.

JSQM: A large number of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz activists staged a demonstration outside the press club on Friday against the arrest of party leaders Sagar Hanif Burdi, Qasim Soomro and others.

Speaking on the occasion, Najeeb Qureshi, Naveed Memon, Babu Mirani and Dhani Bux Abro condemned arrests of party leaders. They said that on the one hand extremist religious parties had been given a licence by the government to spread terrorism while on the other hand activists of national parties who were struggling for their constitutional rights in a peaceful manner were being victimised and tortured.

They pledged to continue struggle against the construction of, what they called, anti-Sindh water projects come what may. The Jamshoro chapter of the JSQM also held a rally at the Jamshoro railway crossing in protest against the arrest of Sagar Hanif Burdi and other leaders.

Speaking on the occasion, Somar Jamali demanded that party leaders Zafar Korijo, Kehar Ansari, Munawar Jamali, Qasim Soomro and Sagar Hanif Burdi be released forthwith. The party activists also staged a token hunger strike outside the Hyderabad press club to protest against the arrest of party leaders.