25 April 2005	Monday	15 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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BAHAWALPUR, April 24: The Balochistan National Party president, Senator Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch, and MNA Abdul Raoof Mengal have opposed any role of army and bureaucracy in politics and the country’s rule. Speaking at a joint press conference at the Bahawalpur Press Club on Sunday night, the Baloch leaders suggested that the affairs of the Gwadar port should be transferred to the province by the federation. They alleged that the project was being snatched by rulers and land mafia from the people of Balochistan in a similar manner as Karachi was earlier taken from Sindhis.

They said they would not allow colonization at Gwadar. They said that during the past eight years, Balochistan’s 26 districts were affected by famine, and recent floods but people did not use any government aid.

The opposition senator and MNA demanded that the senate should be made a complete institution with full powers including that of the approval of the annual finance bill. They added that there was no justification of the representation of both FATA and Islamabad in the senate. Instead, they said, all the four provinces should have equal representation.

They said the federation should have departments of defence, foreign affairs and currency while the remaining sectors should be handed over to provinces.

They supported the return of former prime ministers to the country and condemned what, they called, anti-democratic action on the arrival of Asif Zardari.