June 30, 2007	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Sani 14, 1428

QUETTA, June 29: National Party president Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch has criticised the government for delays in launching relief operations in areas hit by cyclone and rains. Addressing a press conference along with Senator Dr Abdul Malik here on Friday, Dr Hayee announced that the National Party would observe June 30 as protest day with demonstrations against what he called the inhuman attitude of the government toward the affected people.

He said the government had failed to provide relief to the people. He said 10 districts of the province had been badly affected, thousands of houses had collapsed and a large number of people rendered homeless. He said many people had been killed and hundreds of others were missing in different districts. He accused the government of hiding facts.

The NP leader said the government had not issued timely warnings about the cyclone and rains which caused widespread destruction.

He said the government’s tall claims about development of Balochistan had been exposed and mega projects in the province, which had been opposed by nationalist parties, were proving disaster for the Baloch people. He said the people of Turbat had been affected because of the wrong designing of the Mirani dam. He called for action against officials who had designed the dam.

Dr Hayee rejected the government’s plea that weather conditions were the main hurdle in sending helicopters to the affected areas. He said when the government wanted to launch a military operation against the people of Balochistan, they faced no such hurdles. He said people marooned in different areas of the province were still waiting for help. He said Bolan, Sibi, Nasirabad, Jhal Magsi and Jaffarabad had been badly affected.

The NP chief said floodwater was putting pressure on Pat Feeder and Rabi canals and if the government did not take immediate steps, the province would face further destruction.