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

QUETTA, June 29: Opposition leaders have disputed government claims about relief and rescue operations in the flood-hit areas of Balochistan. Addressing separate press conferences here on Friday, leader of the opposition in the provincial assembly Kachkol Ali, Balochistan National Party (Mengal) secretary Habib Jalib Baloch and Baloch Students Organisation central vice-chairman Abid Shah Baloch appealed to the United Nations and European states to provide assistance to the flood victims.

They alleged that the government had used dozens of helicopters in the military operation to kill Baloch people, but now they had no helicopters to help the people marooned in the floodwater.

Mr Kachkol blamed the government for the destruction caused to houses, orchards, date palms and standing crops, because, despite warnings by the Met Office, it had failed to chalk out a plan to save the people from disaster.

He said that 22 people had drowned in Mashkal area and five bodies had been recovered. About 200 people were missing in Jhal Magsi.