LAHORE, Feb 4: The opposition parties and human rights activists are trying to give a false colouring to the army operation in some parts of Balochistan, allege members of Zarkon Marri, Bejarani and other tribes belonging to Kohlu district in Balochistan.

The tribal representatives, including Bahar Khan Bejarani, JUI-F worker Mir Baz Khan, former district council naib nazim Sardar Ataullah Zarkon and ex-UC nazim Mir Liaquat Khan, were speaking at a press conference here on Saturday.

Reading out a written statement on behalf of all the Balochs present there, Bejarani said the opposition parties were misleading the masses by giving them the impression that the innocent people were being targeted in the operation.

“The security forces are acting against anti-social and anti-state elements, including Balaach Marri, and nationalists who want to keep the people in the dark so that they remain unable to challenge their hegemony in the area,” he said.

These elements, he alleged, were being fed by India and Afghanistan.

Condemning rocket attacks on civilian and defence installations, he said the ‘terrorists’ had turned down the government’s offers for talks.

Urging the forces to continue their operation until all Ferari camps were destroyed, he said the anti-social elements under the patronage of Sardars had made lives of the innocent citizens miserable through kidnap for ransom cases.

“Hundreds of people are lodged in private jails either in kidnap for ransom cases or for not voting in the elections of the Sardars.”

He demanded an end to Sardari system so that the people there could really enjoy freedom. A cantonment in Kohlu should be built for protecting the citizens from high-handedness of the Sardars and their henchmen, he added.

Answering a question, he said Dubai-based Ali Mengal was coordinating between the ‘terrorists’ and the Indian intelligence agency — RAW.

Mir Baz Khan was critical of Maulana Fazlur Rahman for “siding with the nationalists without having first-hand information on the Kohlu situation.

“We had even phoned Qazi Husain Ahmad and invited him to visit the area before taking a stand on the issue, but to no avail,” Mr Khan said.