KARACHI, Aug 1: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has strongly criticized the ongoing army operation in Balochistan, and demanded an immediate halt to it and efforts to resolve the issue through dialogue.
The MQM stance was articulated by the founding leader of the party, Altaf Hussain, in a statement in which he expressed "extreme sadness" over the army operation launched in various areas of Balochistan, including Turbat, Gwadar, Sui, Talar, Kohlo, Basholi, Makran and Chaman.
He urged the government of Pakistan to "immediately stop the operation and to resolve the Balochistan issue through honourable dialogue". "It has now become inevitable that a round-table conference be convened, comprising true, genuine and recognized leaders and intellectuals of Balochistan and smaller provinces to resolve and alleviate the grievances of the people of Balochistan in particular and smaller provinces in general through an amicable and honourable dialogue," said Mr Hussain.
The MQM chief reminded that Balochistan had no comparison with FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas). For a long period, the people of Balochistan had voiced their grievances that their province was being deprived of the due share of its resources and their legitimate rights.
Mr Hussain reiterated the MQM's policy on provincial autonomy and stressed that for stability of the federation, it was essential that all provinces were awarded this right.
He also stressed upon the federation to take serious notice of disenfranchisement and grievances of the people of smaller provinces and not to use brute state force to suppress their legitimate demands.
Articulating his personal views on the issue, Mr Hussain said he was extremely saddened over the recent ongoing army operation in Balochistan, and that he and his party shared the sorrow and grief with the people of Balochistan.
Referring to the political and religious parties, he asked why these parties, who had raised vociferous objections over the recent army operation in South Waziristan, had expediently kept silent over the recent army operation in Balochistan.
BNP: Veteran Baloch leader Sardar Attaullah Khan Mengal, who is patron-in-chief of the Balochistan National Party, has condemned what he termed army operation in Ketch, Turbat and Gwadar and stated that Balochistan had been handed over to the army under a calculated move.
Sardar Mengal, who is also President of Pakistan's Oppressed Nationalities Movement, said that Balochistan was being treated as if it was not the province of Pakistan where army rule was being made eternal. In Ketch, Turbat, Gwadar, Kohlu, Dera Bugti and other areas, full state power had been unleashed to test the courage of oppressed people of Balochistan, he added.
He claimed that hundreds of workers of nationalist parties had been arrested in the cover of launching mega projects. He said: "A conspiracy has been hatched to settle Punjabis in Balochistan, but we would never allow them."
He pointed out that Balochistan was the victim of injustices and backwardness while its rulers had utilized their energies for repressing the vulnerable and defenceless people who had faced operation and devastation for the crime of demanding their rights.
Demanding immediate halt to the army operation and release of the arrested workers, he alleged that the operation was started to suppress the resistance movement of Baloch people against establishment of cantonments and settlement of Punjabis in the name of Gwadar mega projects.