04 August 2004	Wednesday	17 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: The Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement on Monday criticized the government for launching an "unannounced military operation" in Balochistan and called for an immediate halt to it.

Speaking at a news conference, Ponam leaders claimed that about 200 activists of different nationalist parties had been arrested in the province. National Party President Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch, Pukhtunkhwa \Milli Awami Party Secretary-General Akram Shah, PKMAP Senator Raza Mohammad Raza, and Senator Sanaullah Baloch and MNA Abdul Rauf Mengal of the Balochistan National Party spoke on the occasion.

They claimed that heavy arms, artillery and gunship helicopters were being used in the military operation in Turbat. They said the operation had been under way in Turbat for eight days but no one had been allowed to report the incidents.

"The arrested people are not being produced before any court and no one knows about their whereabouts," a leader said. Dr Hayee Baloch said the regime was pushing the people of Balochistan to the wall and there could be a strong reaction against it.

He alleged that "state force" was brutally being used against the peace-loving and democratic people of Balochistan to "capture" their natural resources. He said the government earned over Rs600 billion from gas of Balochistan but the people of the province had been deprived of the facility.

He demanded that those arrested during the operation should be released immediately. "We appeal to the government to end the naked aggression and brutal use of state force against the poor people of the province," he said.

He said land in Gwadar was being sold through advertisements in newspapers of Punjab and Sindh while the local people had not been taken into confidence before launching the project.

He held the military rulers responsible for the prevailing situation. "Why no one talks against the army in Punjab?", he asked. He said Ponam was struggling for the restoration of real parliamentary democracy.

Akram Shah said the political, constitutional and economic situation was dangerous. He said only the Pakistan Muslim League was allowed to carry out political activities and all the opponents of the military government were considered anti-state and anti-democracy.

The PKMAP leader said the country was being ruled by "army generals" sitting in the National Security Council. He said a perpetual martial law had been imposed on the country through the 17th constitutional amendment.

Senator Sanaullah Baloch said the government would have to take some immediate steps before "the situation went out of Islamabad's control". He said if the government did not take steps to end the sense of deprivation among the people of the province, Balochistan could also become a focus of discussion on international forums like East Timore and Sudan.

He said a recent report of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan had exposed the human rights situation in Balochistan. He said it was evident from the report that the resources of Balochistan were being looted in the name of joint ventures with multi-national companies.

He said the government was spending Rs30 billion on the levies and new cantonments while Rs20 billion had been allocated for social development. In response to a question, Dr Baloch said the people of Balochistan had suffered a lot during the rule of former prime minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali.

He said it was during Mr Jamali's tenure that the plan of setting up cantonments in Balochistan and the Gwadar master plan was approved. He said Mr Jamali did not announce any development package for Balochistan.

The National Party chief stressed the need for a new social contract among the federating units. He said the country needed a new constitution under which the provinces should have autonomy. He said the centre should keep the subjects of currency, defence and foreign affairs while the remaining subjects should be the responsibility of the provincial governments.

He opposed the allocation of seats for the federal capital and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in the Senate. He said Ponam had arranged an international seminar here on Aug 16 to highlight the issue and a public meeting would be held in Mingora on Aug 18.