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HYDERABAD, Feb 20: Leaders of nationalist parties are perturbed over the worsening situation in Balochistan and express fears that Sindh might go the same way if the government does not change its attitude towards smaller provinces.
Abdul Qadir Ranto of the Awami Tehreek said at a press conference in Qasimabad on Monday that disappearance of a large number of people, target killings and a sense of uncertainty in Balochistan were a matter of concern.The press conference was held to brief media about programmes chalked out to celebrate the 82nd birthday of Awami Tehrik chief Rasool Bakhsh Palijo on Tuesday.
Mr Ranto said Sindh, too, could face the same fate as Balochistan unless timely action was taken to redress people's grievances.
The country, he said, was in turmoil, but the government was doing nothing to address the crisis.
Lawlessness had become the norm in Sindh where even children were being kidnapped and murdered, innocent women being crucified at the altar of karo-kari and feudal lords were defying the state by holding jirgas.
About corruption, the Awami Tehrik leader said it was thriving as never before and government jobs had become a saleable commodity.
"It is appalling to see the prime minister appearing in court just to protect the millions of dollars the country's president has stashed in foreign banks," Mr Ranto said.
He said the government's apathy to the flood-affected was shameful. "The state is least bothered about the hapless people."
The AT leader called for granting autonomy to provinces in line with the 1940 resolution.
MAGSI:Dr Qadir Magsi, chief of the Sindh Taraqi Passand Party (STPP), said the country was passing through a critical stage because of the upheaval in Balochistan.
The ongoing operation and killing of Baloch youth should stop forthwith and the Frontier Constabulary withdrawn from the province, Dr Magsi said at a meeting at his party's head office on Monday.
He called for making public the whereabouts of missing youths and dispensing justice to all oppressed people, including Sindhis.
Our Larkana correspondent adds:Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah, Chairman of the Sindh United Party, said at a press conference that disappearances and unabated killing of Baloch people had put the country in jeopardy. "The Baloch have been pushed to the wall."
About the proposal for creation of more provinces, Jalal Shah said he suspected the People's Party of being a "silent supporter" of the bill moved by the Muttahida in the National Assembly last month in support of the demand for Seraiki and Hazara provinces.
