Oct 02, 2006

Sindh: Call to End Military Operation in Balochistan


Leaders from Sindh and Balochistan demanded on Sunday a halt to what they called military operations in the two provinces besides an end to Army’s intervention in the country’s politics.
Politico-nationalist leaders from Sindh and Balochistan demanded on Sunday a halt to what they called military operations in the two provinces besides an end to Army’s intervention in the country’s politics.

Speaking at a condolence reference for the late Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti at the Hyderabad press club under the aegis of Sindh National Party (SNP), they criticised “the attitude of the rulers towards the smaller provinces”. They said Bugti was a martyr, who laid down his life in a fight for the rights of his people.

Former National Assembly speaker Illahi Bux Soomro presided over the reference, which was attended among others by Awami Tehreek chief Rasool Bux Palejo, Mir Hasil Bazenjo, Jan Muhammed Buledi, Ameer Bhambhro, Jam Saqi, Afzal Gujar, Qamar Bhatti, Dilshad Bhutto, Yusuf Masti Khan and Nazeer Memon.

The moot adopted various resolutions, demanding registration of cases against the rulers for “the target killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti” and taking up the matter with the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The leaders stressed the need for negotiations to resolve the Balochistan imbroglio. The meeting called for an immediate halt to the “military operations in Sindh and Balochistan”, provincial autonomy under the 1940 resolution, and release of all political prisoners of Sindh and Balochistan. They demanded all the political workers of Sindh and Balochistan, who have been “missing” since long, be released forthwith. The meeting also passed a resolution, demanding of the government to withdraw cases against politicians -- including Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto -- and allow them to return home.

The condolence meeting sought an end to the “Army’s and agencies’ role in the country’s politics once and for all” and dissolution of the sitting assemblies for holding free and fair elections under a caretaker set-up. The meeting also emphasised the need for dividing the Punjab into three provinces.

In his speech, Soomro said Bugti was targeted because he was demanding rights for his province. “Nawab Bugti was not against Pakistan rather he was only demanding maximum rights for Balochistan. He was killed because he refused to bow before Gen Musharraf,” he said, adding: “The government should have hand over the body of Nawab Bugti to his heirs.”

He said atrocities were being committed against the people of Sindh and Balochistan and urged the political parties of Sindh to get united on one platform to secure the rights of the province. He also asked the nationalist groups to forge unity in their ranks to serve the interests of Sindh.

Palejo said the people of Sindh were always stood by the people of Balochistan. He described the present government as “illegal and unconstitutional” and alleged that the rulers were involved in the “killing of hundreds of Sindhis by stopping irrigation water supply to them”. Other speakers strongly condemned the government policies viz-a-viz Balochistan.