PESHAWAR, Dec 30: Chief of Awami National Party Asfandiar Wali Khan has expressed concern over artillery shelling on civilian population in Dera Bugti (Balochistan) and has warned the government of its serious repercussions.

In a statement issued here on Friday, Mr Khan said that military operation on such a huge scale could lead to further complication of the problem.

He said that being a democratic and peace-loving party, the ANP could not dissociate itself from the issue. “We strongly demand of the government to put an end to the ongoing operation and resolve the matter through talks,” he said.

Mr Khan said pitching the army against own people could be very dangerous for the federation. The ANP chief said that loss to any of the Baloch leaders could be of grave consequences which the government should avoid.

Meanwhile, In a statement issued on Friday, ANP’s provincial secretary general Mian Iftikhar Hussain condemned prevention of processions from taking part in the anti-Kalabagh dam rally by the government and termed it an undemocratic step.

He said that law-enforcement agencies were responsible for stoppage of processions from. He said the rally proved that people were united against the construction of the controversial dam.