17 August 2004	Tuesday	30 Jamadi-us-Saani 1425

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HYDERABAD, Aug 16: Awami Tehrik chairman Rasool Bux Palijo has demanded an end to the army operation in Balochistan and warned that the operation will undermine solidarity of the country.

Speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Monday, he said that the four federating units had voluntarily joined Pakistan under a covenant which guaranteed historical rights to them, including rights on their resources.

He said that the federal government had no right to thrust the Gwadar port project on the people of Balochistan without their consent. He expressed the apprehension that the project would invite an influx of what he called outsiders in Gwadar, which would convert the Baloch people into a minority in the area.

The AT chief said that hundreds of political activists had been arrested in Balochistan and were being branded as the enemies of the state. He alleged that a network of cantonment had been planned in Balochistan and a plan was afoot to turn the Baloch people into a minority in their own land, adding that the Gwadar project was also a part of the same scheme.

Under the circumstances, Mr Palijo said, the people of Balochistan were exercising their democratic and political rights to resist "the unlawful attacks on their national existence."

He assured the Baloch masses that the people of Sindh would standby them in totality and in all respects. He demanded of the government to refrain from use of force and urged it to adapt an honourable way by entering into a dialogue with the people of Balochistan and their political representatives.

He warned that if it was not done, it was bound to invite a disaster not only for Balochistan but also for all the oppressed people of the country and integrity of the country. He also severely criticised on-going construction of the Greater Thal canal and said that all the water projects would harm the unity of the country.

SNP: Meanwhile, hundreds of activists of the Sindh National Party took out a procession here on Monday in protest against the ongoing operation in Balochistan. The participants, on their way from Jail Road to the press club, blocked the National Highway passing through the city and the Tilak Charhi road by staging sit-ins, which disrupted vehicular traffic.

Speaking on the occasion, SNP chairman Ameer Bhambhro recalled that an army operation had been launched in 1973, in which a large number of people had been killed. He added that the present rulers were doing the same thing.

Expressing solidarity of the Sindhi people with the people of Balochistan, he called upon the nationalist leaders to launch a joint struggle for the rights of the oppressed people.

The rally adopted a resolution calling upon the rulers to stop the operation and resolve the issues by holding talks with the Baloch leaders. Another resolution demanded that the criminal cases against the Baloch leaders should be withdrawn.

Yet another resolution demanded that Sindh and Balochistan should be given royalty for their mineral resources and the multinational companies directed to appoint local people.