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STOP
THE ARMY OPERATION IN BALOCHISTAN
London – 1st August 2004: MQM Founder Leader Mr
Altaf Hussain has said that he is extremely saddened over the army
operation launched in various areas of Balochistan including Turbat,
Gwadar, Sui, Talar, Kohlu, Basholi, Makran and Chaman. He strongly
demanded of the Government of Pakistan to immediately stop this army
operation and to resolve the Balochistan issues through honourable
dialogue. He reminded that Balochistan has no comparison to FATA
(Federally Administered Tribal Areas) and in fact according to the
country’s constitution it is one of the four provinces of Pakistan.
For a long period, the people of Balochistan have voiced their
grievances that their province is being deprived of its due share of its
own resources and also deprived of their legitimate rights.
Mr Hussain reiterated the MQM’s crystal clear policy on provincial
autonomy that for the stability of Federation it is essential that all
provinces are awarded full provincial autonomy. It has now become
inevitable that a round-table conference be convened comprising of true,
genuine and recognized leadership and intellectuals of Balochistan and
smaller provinces to resolve and alleviate the grievances of the people
of Balochistan in particular and other smaller provinces in general
through amicable and honourable dialogue. He also stressed upon the
Federation to take serious notice of disenfranchisement and grievances
of the people of smaller provinces and not to use the brute State force
to suppress their legitimate demands. Articulating his personal views on
the issue, Mr Hussain said that he is extremely saddened over the recent
on-going army operation in Balochistan and that he and his party, the
Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), share the sorrow and grief of the people
of Balochistan. Addressing the political and religious parties of the
country, he asked why the parties who raised vociferous objections over
the recent army operation in South Waziristan and Wana have expediently
kept silent over the recent army operation in Balochistan? He reminded
that the areas in Balochistan where the army operation is being
conducted have been inhabited by the people of Balochistan for centuries
and do not contain any hideout or dens of foreigners, therefore, the
army operation against the people of Balochistan must be stopped
forthwith and all the issues be resolved through dialogues.
Addressing the Government of Pakistan, Mr Hussain said that the use of
State force against any community or people of a province does not
strengthen national integration or unity but on the contrary weakens it
and therefore the national and international scenario demands that the
recent army operation in Balochistan be stopped immediately. He also
addressed the political and religious leaders of the country,
intellectuals, writers, columnists, journalists and people from all
walks of life to play proactive role in bringing an end to the army
operation in Balochistan.
In the end Mr Hussain expressed his and the MQM’s heartfelt
condolences to the family members of the Balochs who lost their lives in
the current army operation and prayed to Almighty Allah to grant their
souls a place in Jannat-ul-Firdaus and solace to the family members to
bear this tragic loss. 1.8.04 |
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Army
operation in Balochistan criticized
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. The News1.8.04 |