KARACHI, March 18: The chief of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, on Friday condemned Thursday morning’s bombardment and killing of people in Dera Bugti, and cautioned against strong arm tactics urging the government to resolve the Balochistan issue through dialogue. He also demanded complete provincial autonomy for all provinces, having a freehand in governance, their own police, and the right to have their own paramilitary force. This was stated by Mr Hussain while telephonically addressing the 21st founding day of the party at 21 various locations in Pakistan and South Africa.

Mr Hussain, who expressed condolences and observed a minute’s silence for those killed in Dera Bugti on March 17, said soon after the incident he had impressed upon the rulers not to use force and desist from military operation.

He said the MQM had registered its protest in the National Assembly by staging a walkout. He demanded of the president and prime minister that it was essential to address the problem on the negotiating table and not through use of force if Pakistan was to be saved.

He said that amid the rapidly changing international, regional and national scenarios, it would be prudent not to create misunderstandings and hatred, adding that kind of military action be stopped.

Mr Hussain, who had declared earlier that his party might opt out of the ruling coalition if military operation was launched in Balochistan, declared that haq parast people across the country would stand by the oppressed people of Balochistan in their struggle for their just rights.

In the context of the Gwadar port, Mr Hussain emphasized the need for caution and a peaceful approach in view of the growing strategic and economic interests of regional and global powers, and said the country needed amity and peace.

He asked the government that in the national interests even the opposition should be taken into confidence because they were also Pakistanis, and in a lighter vein asked the MMA to pray from the success of the government-opposition efforts for reconciliation.

Mr Hussain emphasized that the mistake of not accepting the rights of the majority in the former East Pakistan should not be repeated. He said Bengalis, who were in majority, were compelled to accept parity, yet they were dubbed as traitors.

He asked if Punjab, which was a bigger province on the basis of population, would accept the same principle of parity demanded by the three smaller provinces that were denied of their just rights.

He declared that if Sindh, Balochistan and the NWFP were considered as part of the federation then they should be given complete provincial autonomy, and they should have freedom in governance, the police force and paramilitary forces. “We don’t want chokidars, commissioners and IGs from outside,” he said.

He also demanded that the Khokrapar border should be opened as soon as possible, further asking India to open its visa office in Karachi. Friendly relations with all neighbours were essential, he said. Mr Hussain asked party workers to be prepared for any struggle in the days ahead.