February 15, 2006	Wednesday	Muharram 16, 1427

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QUETTA Feb, 14: Opposition Parties have criticized what they called the ongoing military operation in Dera Bugti and Kohlu and urged the government to immediately put an end to the crackdown in order to resolve the issue politically through negotiations.

President of the National Party Dr Hayee Baloch chaired a meeting of the opposition parties at Mengal House here on Tuesday.

A statement issued after the meeting said that opposition parties discussed the prevailing political situation in the province with particular reference to the ongoing fighting in the Dera Bugti and Kohlu areas and emphasized that extra-constitutional action in both areas should be stopped to tackle the matter politically.

The meeting criticized a raid on the residence of Mahmood Khan Achakzai and expressed deep concern over violation of fundamental rights.

The meeting demanded suspension of mega projects, including the Gwadar development programme, and said that people of the province did not consider the projects were in the interest of Balochistan.

They alleged that hundreds of political activists had been detained by intelligence agencies in violation of the law and said that political workers and members of their families were being harassed.

They urged that all detained political activists should be immediately released or produced before courts of law. They demanded withdrawal of cases against all political workers.

The meeting criticized the government for its insistence on merger of levies into police and said that they would not let the government go ahead with the merger because it was against the tribal society of Balochistan.

The meeting urged the government to respect the resolution of the Balochistan assembly against the setting up of cantonments in Balochistan.

The meeting expressed concern over unprecedented price hike and demanded necessary steps to bring the situation under control. It decided to participate in the protest rally called the BNP-Mengal on February 17 in all district headquarters against the military operation and illegal detentions.

It also adopted a condolence resolution on the death of ANP leader Khan Abdul Wali Khan.

Representatives who attended the meeting included Habib Jalib Baloch and Senator Sana Baloch (BNP-M), Abdur Rahim Ziaratwal and Usman Kakar (PMAP), Arbab Zahir Kasi (ANP), Syed Sadullah Shah (PPP Parliamentarian) and Akhlaq advocate (PML-N).