March, 20 2005	Sunday	09 Safar 1426

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QUETTA, March 19: Participants of a public meeting held on Saturday under the aegis of the Pakistan Oppressed Nations’ Movement demanded that the Balochistan governor and provincial cabinet should quit and security forces should be withdrawn from the troubled area. The gathering at the Liaquat Bagh also adopted resolutions against the construction of Kalabagh dam, establishment of cantonments and launching of large projects in Balochistan and demanded registration of an FIR against those who opened fire on a students’ procession in Sui. Leaders and workers of Ponam and other opposition parties assembled at the taxi stand and reached Liaquat Bagh after marching on different roads. The protesters wearing armbands and carrying black flags chanted slogans against President Gen Pervez Musharraf, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, the Balochistan governor and chief minister and Punjab. Former speaker of National Assembly Fakhar Imam, Leader of the Independent Democratic Group Syeda Abida Hussain and former chief minister Mir Taj Mohammad Jamali also joined the procession. Addressing the protesters, Balochistan National Party (Mengal) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal said it was a tradition of the rulers to launch military operations against the oppressed Baloch and other nationalities, deny constitutional and democratic rights to the smaller provinces and capture their resources for the betterment of Punjab and the army.

He said his party would not cooperate with the provincial government which had called for deployment of troops in Sui and which was equally responsible for the killing of tribesmen in Dera Bugti on Thursday.

The BNP-M leader said the government wanted to pave way for another military action in the area. He claimed that 70 army trucks had moved from Kashmor towards the area on Saturday morning and 45 of those had reached Dera Bugti.

Abdur Rahim Ziaratwal of the Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party said framing of a new constitution to protect the rights of the Pukhtuns, Baloch, Sindhis and Seraikis and denial of political role to army could steer the country out of the present impasse.

Tahir Bizenjo of the National Party said the gathering showed that people speaking different languages were united for the rights of Balochistan.

Mir Hamayun Marri of the JWP said shelling on Bugti tribesmen would not force the Baloch to give up their struggle for attaining their national rights and protecting the resources of the province.

Arbab Zahir Kasi of the Awami National Party said wrong policies of military rulers caused the dismemberment of Pakistan in 1971.

Syed Sadullah Shah of the PPP said the PPP in collaboration with other democratic parties would succeed in overthrowing the military dictatorship, reviving democratic rule and restoring the constitution in its original shape.

Malik Amanullah Kasi of the Pukhtunkhwa Qaumi Party urged the Pukhtuns, Baloch and Sindhis to collectively struggle to get their rights from the oppressors.

Jawed Isar of the Hazara Democratic Party said the military rulers had launched an operation in Dera Bugti to exploit the resources of Balochistan.