QUETTA, Feb 27: Jamhoori Watan Party chief Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti on Sunday condemned the police operation in Marri camp, terming it state terrorism and part of preparations to launch a military operation against the Baloch.

In a statement issued here, he said police launched the search operation at midnight, arrested innocent people and harassed women and children. "Displacing women and children from their homes in the current severe cold and rainy weather is a serious violation of human rights and ethical values," Nawab Bugti said.

He alleged that 'state terrorism' was going on against the Baloch in Jewani, Zamran, Khuzdar, Dera Bugti, Sui and Kohlu areas. He warned that the government should not test the patience of the Baloch. He said protection of basic rights of the citizens and sanctity of their homes was very difficult in the country as the laws pertaining to their violation were never applied.

He said the police's claim of finding torture cells and a private jail in the so-called house of nationalist leader Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri was another attempt of character assassination launched by the government against Baloch leaders.

He said everybody, including the government, knew that Nawab Marri had been living in the Arbab Karam Khan Road area for a long time. He said that Nawab Marri has no property in the Marri camp. He said the Baloch Alliance and women's and human rights organizations should protest against the 'state terrorism'.