QUETTA, Dec 9: Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf has rejected allegations that Punjab and the army were exploiting the resources of Balochistan and said that the big province had no interest in the resources of this province.

Speaking at a public meeting in Barkhan on Thursday, he said that elements whose politics was sinking were now making propaganda against mega projects which were launched by the federal government to remove backwardness.

Mir Abdur Rehman Jamali Minister for S&GAD, ex-minister and chief of Khetran tribe Sardar Abdur Rehman Khetran, Arbab Mohammad Hashim Kasi, Saifuddin Kabzai and Chaudhary Mohammad Shabir also spoke on the occasion.

The chief minister criticized the nationalists and said that these elements neither had done anything for the welfare of the people when they were in power nor they wanted to solved the problems faced by the people. Mr Yousuf said that people should fight against backwardness, illiteracy, unemployment and hatred instead of one group fighting the other.

Praising President Pervez Musharraf for launching mega projects in the province, he said Gen Musharraf is the first ruler who wanted to remove the grievances of the people of the area and the future generation would not forget us if we do not take benefit from the uplift programme initiated by the centre.

Mr Yousuf appreciated the spirit of the Khetran tribesmen for offering free land to establish cantonment in Barkhan and said that establishment of cantonments in the province would not harm the interest of Balochistan.

He assured the audience that his government was making concerted efforts to facilitate the people of far-flung areas with provision of basic amenities and stated that after the completion of development projects the province will enjoy prosperity.

Earlier Sardar Abdur Rehman Khetran on behalf of participants demanded that President Musharraf should not shed his military uniform as that was in the interest of the nation.