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KARACHI, March 19: The Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (Ponam) has warned the rulers against creating an East Pakistan-like situation in Balochistan, and asked all political forces in the country to play their role before it was too late. The warning came at an emergency press conference addressed by Ponam Secretary-General Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah at his residence here on Saturday. Javed Jan Mengal, Rasool Bux Thebo, Ali Hasan Chandio, Hakim Khan Mandokhel and other Ponam leaders were present on the occasion.
Mr Shah referred to the movement of military convoys, comprising more than 70-80 personnel carriers heading for Dera Bugti in Balochistan from Kashmor (Sindh), and pointed to ?a calculated move to spreading disinformation? vis-a-vis the incidents and developments in Dera Bugti and Sui which, according to him was aimed at paving the way for a confrontation between army and local population in that province.
?If any untoward situation is created, the responsibility would rest on the army, government and its allies,? he warned, and said that Ponam had already given a call for a countrywide strike on March 31. If such a situation was created before the date, he added, the Ponam leadership reserved the right to go for any other option.
Mr Shah recalled that on Friday, the government had formed a committee of eight MNAs, including two from Balochistan, to visit Dera Bugti and Sui for assessing the situation. However, he said, the committee refused to board the flight when Mr Rauf Mengal conveyed a message from the Prime Minister?s House that due to bad weather, the journey to Sui and Dera Bugti was not possible.
As part of the disinformation drive, he said, reports quoting the concerned DCO had been circulated in Balochistan that Nawab Akbar Bugti had directed all members of the administrative machinery to leave Dera Bugti area along with their families immediately.
The Ponam leader said he had talked to Nawab Akbar Bugti to know the facts but the latter denied having issued any such statement and termed the report part of a malicious campaign against people of Balochistan.
Referring to the tragic incident in which ?50 civilians and army personnel had lost their lives?, he wondered that while the ambush had taken place in Sangsila, at a place about 30-35 kms away from Dera Bugti, how could it be retaliated at a place far away from Dera Bugti. Even Sengsila is about four kilometres away from Sui, he added.
Mr Shah was of the view that the dangerous situation in Balochistan was being created by those who thought that army was the first which had the right over all resources in the country, it followed by Punjab and all others came next.
He said Ponam was opposed to the setting up of cantonments in the name of ?development? to usurp rights of local people. The cantonments being built in Gwadar, Dera Bugti, Kohlu and Khuzdar in Balochistan; and Larkana, Petaro and Ghebi Dero in Sindh were aimed at ensuring full control over the resources of these provinces and keep a close eye on local population.
Terming it ?militarization?, he demanded an immediate halt to the construction of these cantonments.
In reply to a question, Mr Shah apprehended that after Balochistan, Sindh might be the next target of military adventurism. ?We are united and ready to respond to the challenge,? he added.
Mr Shah said that the parliamentary committee on Balochistan and politicians of the province were being kept away from Dera Bugti area as preparations were being made to launch a major operation. The politicians and legislators would be taken to the area only after the operation was over, he feared.
Mr Javed Mengal told reporters that there was no foreign hand in the ongoing struggle for rights in Balochistan, and pointed out that in the past also, people of that province had taken part in such movements on their own.
Mr Shah referred to the movement of military convoys, comprising more than 70-80 personnel carriers heading for Dera Bugti in Balochistan from Kashmor (Sindh), and pointed to ?a calculated move to spreading disinformation? vis-a-vis the incidents and developments in Dera Bugti and Sui which, according to him was aimed at paving the way for a confrontation between army and local population in that province.
?If any untoward situation is created, the responsibility would rest on the army, government and its allies,? he warned, and said that Ponam had already given a call for a countrywide strike on March 31. If such a situation was created before the date, he added, the Ponam leadership reserved the right to go for any other option.
Mr Shah recalled that on Friday, the government had formed a committee of eight MNAs, including two from Balochistan, to visit Dera Bugti and Sui for assessing the situation. However, he said, the committee refused to board the flight when Mr Rauf Mengal conveyed a message from the Prime Minister?s House that due to bad weather, the journey to Sui and Dera Bugti was not possible.
As part of the disinformation drive, he said, reports quoting the concerned DCO had been circulated in Balochistan that Nawab Akbar Bugti had directed all members of the administrative machinery to leave Dera Bugti area along with their families immediately.
The Ponam leader said he had talked to Nawab Akbar Bugti to know the facts but the latter denied having issued any such statement and termed the report part of a malicious campaign against people of Balochistan.
Referring to the tragic incident in which ?50 civilians and army personnel had lost their lives?, he wondered that while the ambush had taken place in Sangsila, at a place about 30-35 kms away from Dera Bugti, how could it be retaliated at a place far away from Dera Bugti. Even Sengsila is about four kilometres away from Sui, he added.
Mr Shah was of the view that the dangerous situation in Balochistan was being created by those who thought that army was the first which had the right over all resources in the country, it followed by Punjab and all others came next.
He said Ponam was opposed to the setting up of cantonments in the name of ?development? to usurp rights of local people. The cantonments being built in Gwadar, Dera Bugti, Kohlu and Khuzdar in Balochistan; and Larkana, Petaro and Ghebi Dero in Sindh were aimed at ensuring full control over the resources of these provinces and keep a close eye on local population.
Terming it ?militarization?, he demanded an immediate halt to the construction of these cantonments.
In reply to a question, Mr Shah apprehended that after Balochistan, Sindh might be the next target of military adventurism. ?We are united and ready to respond to the challenge,? he added.
Mr Shah said that the parliamentary committee on Balochistan and politicians of the province were being kept away from Dera Bugti area as preparations were being made to launch a major operation. The politicians and legislators would be taken to the area only after the operation was over, he feared.
Mr Javed Mengal told reporters that there was no foreign hand in the ongoing struggle for rights in Balochistan, and pointed out that in the past also, people of that province had taken part in such movements on their own.
