ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: Parlia-mentarians and nationalist leaders from Balochistan on Sunday condemned the ongoing military operations in Kohlu and Dera Bugti and called for its immediate end. Speaking at a joint press conference here they said a 1971-like situation was being created by letting loose a rein of terror on the people of Balochistan.

They feared death of hundreds of people besieged in Dera Bugti.

“Dera Bugti which has a population of 25,000 has been turned into ruins due to shelling by gunship helicopters and planes”, alleged Senator Amanullah Kunrani of Jamhoori Watan Party.

He alleged that hundred of civilians, including women and children, had been killed and wounded in the military operation.

Chief of Balochistan National Party and former MNA Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch cautioned that Balochistan was passing through critical phase of its history.

“A hell has been unleashed on the people by intensifying shelling on them. The sole motive behind it is to occupy the natural resources of Balochistan and deprive Baloch people of their rights”, he alleged. The Baloch nationalist leaders denied a report about rocket attack on President Gen Pervez Musharraf during his recent visit to Kohlu.

Criticizing the ongoing operation in Balochistan, Senator Sanaullah Baloch asked why any military operation was not launched in other parts of the country where terrorists attacked and attempted on the life of Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

“The government may arrest those involved in the attack rather than launching military operation and bombing of innocent people”, he said. Mr Baloch said Gen Musharraf’s visit to inaugurate a military post in Kohlu was itself providing a reason to launch operation in the area.

Senator Baloch stressed the need for resolving the issue by ensuring basic rights to the people of Balochistan and removing their sense of deprivation.

In response to a query, the BNP senator said the people of Balochistan were not against development projects in the area but wanted the provincial government’s says in the projects.

He said that the Constitution did not allow the state machinery to target its own citizens but the present military regime by doing so has violated the Constitution as well as the international human rights laws.

Responding to a question, Senator Baloch said a number of nationalist leaders had arrived from Balochistan to take part in Monday’s protest against the government and urged the people of the twin cities Islamabad and Rawalpindi to support their cause by taking part in the demonstration.

Referring to the construction of the controversial Kalabagh Dam, Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch said the issue was only raised to divert the attention of the people of the country from the billions of donations that the country received for the victims of the October 8 earthquake.

He said powers should be transferred to the elected representatives and the military should take its constitutional role, defence of the borders.

He suggested that the federation should keep defence, currency and foreign affairs and transfer other subjects and powers to the provinces.

MNA Abdul Rauf Mengal of BNP rejected the establishments of cantonments in Balochistan by saying that the provincial assembly has already passed a resolution against it.

Opposition leader in the Balochistan Assembly, Advocate Kashkol Ali said if the rocket attack on Gen Musharraf was cause for bombing Kohlu then Islamabad and Rawalpindi should also be subjected to shelling as two attempts were made on the life of the president in the twin cities.—Agencies