February 18, 2006	Saturday	Muharram 19, 1427

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QUETTA Feb 17: The Jamhoori Watan Party alleged on Friday that the government had deployed two computerized artilleries and a surveillance plane to target Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and warned of dire consequences if its leader was harmed.

Speaking at a press conference here on Friday, Agha Shahid Hasan Bugti, secretary general of the JWP, also alleged that the government had sought the US help in monitoring signals of the satellite phone being used by Nawab Bugti to locate his mountain abode.

He said that the security forces had been trying to target Nawab Bugti for some time but had so far failed to locate him. He said that the aged Baloch leader and his followers were fighting for the rights of the Baloch people. “Nawab Bugti is not fighting for personal gains,” he added.

He alleged that security forces were continuously bombing tribesmen in Dera Bugti and Kohlu districts, but despite all difficulties ‘sons of the soil’ were bravely defending their land and resources.

He said that due to continuous shellings hundreds of families were leaving Pirkoh and Loti towns.

Shahid Bugti alleged that intelligence agencies had arrested JWP’s deputy secretary general Abdur Rauf Sasoli in Karachi a few days ago. He also accused the intelligence agencies of detaining hundreds of Baloch youths and subjecting them to torture.

He said that the government had provided heavy weapons and new vehicles to people of the Kalpar sub-clan in Sui, adding that this was tantamount to pitching sub-clans against each other.

About the killing of three Chinese engineers in Hub and reports that the BLA had claimed responsibility of the attack, the JWP leader said that the phone calls to media personnel had been made by intelligence agencies in name of BLA. He said that a tussle between foreign powers in the region was the main cause of the tragic incident.

CALL TO END OPERATION: Nationalist groups on Friday urged the government to stop what they termed military operation in Dera Bugti and Kohlu and said that there could be no harmony between federation and smaller provinces without recognition of the oppressed nationalities’ rights.

A demonstration was organized by the Balochistan National Party (Mengal group outside the press club.

Habib Jalib Baloch and Sajid Tareen of the BNP, Usman Kakar of the PMAP, Najimuddin Kakar of the ANP, Liaquat Shahwani of the National Party and Haji Wali Muhammad of the Zamindar Action Committee addressed the protestors.

They blamed a particular province of denying political and constitutional rights to smaller nationalities and said that it was backed by the army, adding that the deprived nationalities were trying to secure control of their resources.

Speakers denounced the ongoing operation and said that usurpers were unwilling to accept smaller provinces’ demand for granting maximum autonomy to federating units.

Nationalist leaders said that the international community should take notice of security forces’ excesses against innocent Baloch people and abuses of their fundamental rights.

They said that political issues could not be settled by using force and the rulers should accept ground realities.

Sources in the BNP-M claimed that protest rallies were also held in different district headquarters.