QUETTA, March 20: Central Information Secretary of JWP Senator Amanullah Kanrani has alleged that he wanted to condole with the families of the victims of law-enforcement agencies’ shelling on the fort of Nawab Akbar Bugti but the army authorities refused him entry into Dera Bugti. Speaking at a press conference in the Quetta Press Club on Sunday Mr Kanrani said that he would file a constitutional petition in the Balochistan High Court on Monday against the restrictions imposed by the Frontier Corps on citizens’ entry in Dera Bugti and would also move a privilege motion in the Senate.

He rejected the claim of Balochistan governor that 300 para-military personnel in frontier corps complex Dera Bugti were besieged by local tribesmen and said that if it was true than why he (Kanrani) could not go to Dera Bugti on Saturday. He said the security guards at the Farooq Check Post did not allow him to travel beyond this point and an army captain told him that he had instructions from the higher authorities not to let him (Kanrani) go to Dera Bugti.

Mr Kanrani said he told the captain that he was a senator and the president of Balochistan High Court Bar Association hence they could not stop him but the army official was not inclined to allow him entry into Dera Bugti.

He claimed that under the law of the land a citizen could be stopped to go to a certain place only when the district nazim concerned had imposed such ban under section 144 or the provincial government had issued such instructions. The JWP leader asserted that a curfew-like situation had been created in Sui and Dera Bugti areas as army and FC personnel were moving here and there and helicopters were hovering overhead while the local people were confined inside their houses due to which they were facing shortage of food and medicines.

About the provincial government’s suggestion to form a peace committee to normalize the situation, he said that the Jam government was powerless because President Musharraf and Corps Commander Quetta were directly running the affairs of Sui and Dera Bugti. He said only withdrawal of troops and para-military forces from Dera Bugti and Sui could pave the way for normalcy.