QUETTA, Jan 14: The Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) has urged political parties to take a united stand against the military operation in Kohlu and Dera Bugti, and the controversial Kalabagh dam Speaking at a public meeting in Pishin Bazaar on Saturday, party speakers announced that Pukhtuns would fully support the Baloch in their struggle against usurpers to get the smaller nationalities rid of the influence of Punjab.

Party’s deputy chairman Abdur Rahim Mandokhel presided over the meeting. Senators Nawab Ayaz Khan Jogezai and Raza Muhammad Raza also spoke on the occasion.

Mr Rahim Mandokhel denounced the killing of civilians by security forces in Kohlu and Dera Bugti areas. Resisting forces were fighting against oppressors to protect the resources and rights of the Baloch people.

He said Pukhtuns would not leave the Baloch alone at this critical juncture when they were facing state assaults on innocent people.

The PMAP leader said custodial killings, shelling and air strikes on the civilians was a grave human rights violation. He demanded that the military should end operation in Kohlu and Dera Bugti, and resolve the issue politically instead of violence.

He said it was the tragedy of the nation that autocratic rulers did not realize the gravity of situation in the country. Instead of talks, they were using force in Balochistan to resolve issues, he added.

The rulers, he said, wanted to build the controversial Kalabagh dam in violation of the aspirations of Pukhtuns, Sindhis and Balochs.

He said the Kalabagh dam was the issue of life and death for Pukhtuns. On the one hand Punjab wanted to destroy the fertile lands of Pukhtuns by constructing the dam while on the other hand was trying to own the Pukhtun River.

He said Pukhtuns would under no circumstances allow the military dictator to go ahead with anti-Pukhtun dam.

Mr Mandokhel criticized the introduction of police system in Balochistan and said the abolition of levies was a conspiracy to disturb the peaceful life of Pukhtun and Baloch tribes.

He stressed political groups to join hands to save the levies system.

He urged the government to implement the Balochistan assembly resolution against the elimination of Piralizai refugee camp and stated that the Afghan refugees had repatriated to Afghanistan and criminals were using the camp as their den.