ISLAMABAD, Aug 20: Senators belonging to Balochistan criticized the government on Friday for launching a "military operation" and planning to set up cantonments in the province.

Balochistan National Party (BNP) Senator Sanaullah Baloch, criticizing the government's policies, said: "Military to population ratio in Balochistan is even more than that maintained by Israel in Palestine and India in held Kashmir." If the political problems are not addressed then the crisis would deepen, he said.

He claimed that there were three brigades posted in the province. Besides he said, the Frontier Constabulary (FC) had set up 345 check posts. Mr Baloch regretted that the people of the province were not consulted before launching development projects.

"No one can sleep in their palaces in the new elite city of Gwadar if a Baloch does not sleep peacefully in his tent," he said. He demanded that all income to be generated by the Gwadar port should be spent on the welfare of the people of Balochistan.

Mr Baloch said if the authorities were so worried about the development of Balochistan then they should provide money for setting up educational and vocational institutions, instead of setting up cantonments.

He asked the government to build a museum to preserve the Baloch culture, instead of establishing seven cantonments in the province. "The energy line of Pakistan cannot be saved by establishing cantonments," he added.

Taking part in the debate, Senator Aslam Buledi of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) said the law and order situation in the province should be improved through dialogue, instead of using force.

He criticized the government for registering false cases against political leaders. He said attacks were carried out on President Gen Pervez Musharraf, Shaukat Aziz and the Karachi corps commander, but no case was registered against any political leader.

"Why cases have been registered against political leaders when similar things happened in Balochistan?" he asked. Ruling party Senator Muhim Khan Baloch also opposed the idea of setting up new cantonments in the province.

He said that in the present circumstances, the decision could even lead to a civil war. He was of the view that tribal and feudal system still existed in the province and the people had arms and ammunition in huge quantity. "The decision to set up cantonments in Dera Bugti and Kohlu should be postponed for the time being," he added.

He, however, said that maintenance of law and order was the responsibility of the government and it had the right to take every step. He said the actual military operation was launched in Balochistan in 1970s during a democratically elected civilian government. He also called for banning the use of words "miscreants and traitors" for the political leaders of the country.

Prof Khursheed Ahmed of the MMA said growing role of military in politics was creating serious misunderstandings between the army and the public. He called for initiating dialogue with the genuine political leadership of Balochistan to resolve the issue.