QUETTA, Nov 25: The leader of Opposition in the Balochistan Assembly, Mr Kachkol Ali, has called for steps to stop the federal government from what he called its illegal and unconstitutional moves against the provincial autonomy.

A statement issued here on Wednesday night quoted him as saying that Islamabad was using residuary provincial powers -undefined authority - under the federal rules of business, which was illegal and unconstitutional.

He said that after ousting the Nawaz Sharif government and dissolving parliament and provincial assemblies in October 1999, General Pervez Musharraf had said that an uncertain situation had been created because of an imbalance of power between the centre and provinces.

He said that Gen Musharraf had promised that the imbalance would be removed, but during the past five years the centre had deprived the provinces of their powers instead of increasing them.

Mr Ali said that police was a provincial subject which had been given to the federal government while provinces' powers had been devolved to the district level thus creating a conflict of interests between provinces and districts.

The federal government was using powers to collect taxes, besides enjoying 99 per cent financial powers, making the provinces financially dependent on the federal government. He also said that army's interference had increased manifold in civilian institutions.

He termed the election of Gen Musharraf as president illegal and unconstitutional and said that he had also imposed a security council on parliament. The Balochistan opposition leader urged the federal government to stop using residuary powers that came under provincial autonomy.