QUETTA, Feb 22: The Chief of National Party (NP) and the Leader of Opposition in the Balochistan Assembly have asked the government to end the military operation in Dera Bugti and Kohlu and release the detained political workers.

Dr Hayee Baloch and Kachkol Ali demanded withdrawal of paramilitary forces from the two districts and said that continuation of the crackdown would further harm relations between the federation and the Baloch people.

They said at a press conference that all political parties, including the ruling PML, had been stressing the need for resolving the Balochistan issue politically, and not by use of force.

Dr Hayee and Advocate Ali alleged that the military rulers were imposing their decisions on the people in violation of the constitution.

They said that over the past two months thousands of families had moved out of Dera Bugti and Kohlu because of what they called indiscriminate bombing and shelling by paramilitary forces.

They said that the federal interior minister himself stated that more than 4,000 people had been detained in Balochistan. Under the law, they said, the government was bound to produce the detainees in court.

They called up foreign countries not to sign any agreement with Pakistan about Balochistan without the consent of the Baloch leadership.

They said that Pakistan, Iran and India should take the Baloch leadership into confidence on the tripartite agreement for laying a gas pipeline.

They cautioned that ignoring the Baloch on this vital project may put its implementation at stake.