The Pakistan Army has set up a new garrison near gas field in Sui Tehsil of Dera Bugti district and the construction work would be completed in four or five years, military officials said on Wednesday.

"The new cantonment would be constructed on 400 acres of land which has been purchased from the locals," said Commanding Officer Sui Col Mazhar Masood, while briefing newsmen at the site of the cantonment.

Col Mazhar said the main purpose of establishing the cantonment was to provide security to the life and property of the citizens, ensure protection of the Sui gas plant and to check terrorist activities. "The headquarters would start the construction work soon," he added.

He also showed the land of the new garrison where a unit of Pak Army had established camps. Tanks and other heavy military weapons were also seen at the site.

Earlier, Commandant Frontier Corps (FC) Sui Col Mujeebur Rehman said the law and order in Sui was completely under control and nobody would be allowed to take law into his hands. He rejected the reports that the houses of the locals near the Sui gas plant had been demolished. He termed the report "baseless". He said the terrorists had fired "unlimited" number of rockets and mortars during January 7 to 11. The police have registered case against the attackers. "It is the responsibility of police and other law-enforcement agencies to trace out and apprehend the attackers," he added.

He dispelled the impression that the FC had launched any house-to-house operation in the area. However, he added, a large number of people belonging to Sui Tehsil had surrendered their licensed weapons to the law-enforcement agencies. He also showed dozens of used rockets and mortars to the newsmen, which had been fired during January 7 to 12. "We are fully prepared to foil deigns of the terrorists," he added.

Replying to a question, the FC commandant said that during the attack the terrorists had taken positions in the houses of the residents near the gas plant and fired rockets from there. Meanwhile talking to newsmen, General Manager of the Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), Muhammad Iftikhar said the complete restoration of gas supply from Sui gas plant would resume within the next couple of days. "However, we have resumed partial supply last week," he added.

About the losses caused by the rocket attacks on the gas field, the PPL official said the federal government and the PPL had to face losses of Rs 280 million because the plant had to be closed for eight days due to the damages to its purification plant.

Agencies add: Nawab Akbar Bugti, who leads the Jamhoori Watan Party, dubbed the military "invaders and occupiers" and accused them of appropriating land to set up the base. "They have set up the cantonment by force and they forced people to give land for the cantonment," Bugti told The Associated Press by telephone in Dera Bugti. "Time will see how we react."

In a separate interview with Voice of America Nawab Akbar Bugti late on Tuesday night refused to meet the government negotiating team in an atmosphere of "intimidation and duress".

He said at the moment a "sword of military operation is hanging on our heads". The military along with its guns and tanks, planes and helicopters has been deployed in Sui and is waiting for an order, he said.

When asked if he had refused to meet the team till the withdrawal of security forces from Sui, Bugti said: "We have not demanded their withdrawal, but made it clear that talks cannot be held in such a situation."

Responding to a question under what circumstances talks would be possible, Bugti said: "It is their task to make the atmosphere free of intimidation and fear. It is up to them to do the needful."

When quizzed what kind of atmosphere would make the atmosphere conducive, the JWP chief replied: "Look! They are not children. We have told them that we cannot do this in such a situation. It is up to them to rectify it or not. They are well aware of all the things. I do not have to spell out everything."

Asked if it meant he was saying that talks would be fruitless unless atmosphere was made conducive, Bugti said: "Certainly, when one is under duress and threatened to do something, otherwise, we are going to let loose our Lashkar; in such a situation how can one listen to or utter a rational thing." The News 27.1.05