15 August 2004	Sunday	28 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

ISLAMABAD, Aug 14: Abdul Rauf Mengal, MNA, on Saturday welcomed Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain's offer of talks on the situation in Balochistan but wondered about its significance in view of the ongoing military operation in the province.

Speaking at a press conference along with leaders of the Pakistan Oppressed Nations' Movement (Ponam) at Sindh House, he said any dialogue would only be meaningful if the leaders of Balochistan National Party (BNM), Ponam, etc., were released, cases against them withdrawn and work on mega projects stopped.

He wondered as to whether any dialogue initiated by the prime minister would yield tangible results because "we do not know whether he has the power to take decision on anything."

Syed Jalal Mahmood Shah, general-secretary, and about a dozen leaders of Ponam and the BNM, etc., were also present.

Earlier, Mr Shah announced that Ponam and its allied parties would hold a seminar in Islamabad on Aug 16 on "Pakistan's oppressed nations' constitutional, political, economic and cultural exploitation and their solution in light of international principles".

He said all the like-minded parties as well as Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) had been invited to participate in the seminar. In reply to a question, Mr Shah said the MMA had not been invited because its area of interest was much larger than the problems of the oppressed nations.

Answering questions, Mr Mengal alleged that over 200 political leaders, including 20 belonging to the BNM, had been arrested during the military operation in Balochistan.