LAHORE, Jan 27: The Tehrik-i-Istiqlal holds tribal system and chieftains responsible for the current situation in Balochistan.

"Chieftains are against development projects in the province fearing that these may result in loosening of their clutches over the poor tribesmen," president Rehmat Khan Wardag told a press conference here on Thursday.

Demanding all possible measures for protecting national assets and mega projects in Balochistan and other provinces, he said no to any compromise on this issue with "anti-social elements."

He, however, upheld the government's decision of avoiding military operation against the trouble makers. He stressed the need for improving ties with neighbouring states of India, Iran and Afghanistan so that the trouble-makers could not get any help from there.

Urging the masses to enthusiastically contest the local bodies polls, the Tehrik chief demanded that the government should make the polling process transparent and fair.

Expressing his concern at the delay in the construction of Kalabagh Dam and other water reservoirs, he said the more delay in the execution of these projects would cause more damage to the national economy.

He also demanded distribution of state land among land less tenants and provision of inputs at subsidized rates to farmers owning less than 25 acres. Opposing establishment of industrial zones on cultivable land, he said such area should be selected for these zones where canal or sub-soil water was not available for irrigation.

Mr. Wardag also suggested reforms in the present Zakat system as he believed that 6,000 poor people in each district could be provided with employment opportunities if the Zakat amount was utilized properly.

Punjab president Malik Hamid Sarfraz, women wing chairperson Nasreen Rauf and information secretary Sheikh Haroon Yousaf were also present on the occasion.