Govt warned against army operation

Published January 25, 2005

QUETTA, Jan 24: Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai has warned the government that any attempt to resolve political issues, including the Sui problem, through extra-constitutional means would invite violence.

Speaking at a public meeting in Pishin on Monday, he said that the PMAP would oppose any military operation in Sui and emphasized the need to recognize the rights of deprived nationalities on their resources.

Mr Achakzai alleged that Punjab's approach to exploit the resources of the oppressed nationalities had created the Sui crisis and alleged that during the last five decades, the usurpers had been looting the wealth of Pakhtuns, Balochs, Sindhis and Seriakis.

The PMAP leader while opposing the establishment of cantonments in Balochistan alleged that the Punjab leadership was behind the construction of forts in order to suppress political movements of the deprived provinces that were raising voice against the exploitation of their resources.

He stressed that army generals and intelligence agencies should abandon their political role. Mr Achakzai assured the participants that the PMAP would continue struggle for the rights of Pakhtuns. He lashed out at the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal leadership and said that they were using the name of Islam and Shariat for hiding their corruption.

The PMAP chief also criticized the government for ignoring the drought victims in northern districts of the province. He announced that the party had given a strike call in Quetta on February 12 to condemn the government policy.

KHAR: Former Punjab chief minister Ghulam Mustafa Khar has assured JWP leader Nawab Akbar Bugti that Punjab would resist any military action in Balochistan. Mr Khar said this while talking to newsmen at Dera Bugti on Monday after meeting Nawab Bugti.

They discussed the latest development in Sui and asked the rulers to give up the idea of resolving the Balochistan issue through use of state apparatus. Mr Khar claimed that the people of Punjab would not back the government to launch a military operation and maintained that his visit to Dera Bugti was to express solidarity with the Baloch people.

He said that the military operation would be a serious mistake as it would harm the interest of the federation. Nawab Bugti thanked Mr Khar for extending cooperation on behalf of the people of Punjab and said that his moral and political support was encouraging for the people of Balochistan.

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