BSF demands release of Mengal

ISLAMABAD: The Balochistan Solidarity Front (BSF) - a broad-based coalition of progressive political workers, intellectuals and Ordinary citizens - has condemned the ongoing state repression against political workers in Balochistan and demanded the immediate release of Akhtar Mengal, Rauf Mengal and hundreds of others.

The BSF has also called attention to the recent announcement by the federal government that control over the Gwadar Port is being handed over to the Singapore Port Authority, which constitutes yet another shameless unilateral decision on the part of the military government which will further disenfranchise the people of the province.

Aasim Sajjad of the BSF has pointed out that the government very cunningly resumed military operations in Balochistan after the furore over Akbar Bugti’s killing died down and deliberate efforts were made to divide the nationalist movement, particularly within Bugti’s own Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP). He also condemned the attitude of the mainstream opposition parties whose position on the military operation has been very erratic and reflects their lack of interest in genuinely fomenting a popular movement against General Musharraf’s dictatorship. He said that it was following the murder of Akbar Bugti that a meaningful opportunity existed to build a nationwide movement that not only demanded the end of dictatorship but also a more long-term reconfiguration of the relationship between the centre and the provinces, but that this opportunity was lost.

Aasim Sajjad said that the government’s announcement of the handing over of Gwadar Port to the Singapore Port Authority is in keeping with the way that the entire process has been dealt with till now. The Baloch people have had no say in the decision over the construction of the port and all revenues From it will either go into the coffers of the centre or to multinationals That are likely to have almost exclusive management control of it. He said That the massive land grab that has carried on simultaneously with the Construction of the port is ongoing even today and indigenous people are Having their land forcibly acquired even though the Supreme Court Quetta Bench clearly ruled that all land allotments and forced acquisition is Illegal. Aasim Sajjad pointed out that similar non-transparent and undemocratic processes are also evident in the case of all other ’mega Development’ projects in the province including the Saindak mines.

Aasim Sajjad warned that the polarizations between pro and anti government Forces that have become very acute over the past two years are likely to Increase manifold if the attitude of the centre does not undergo a Dramatic Change. He said that due to the government’s efforts to undermine the Nationalist movement, support for militancy is growing and ultimately the Responsibility for the growing disaffection amongst the Baloch people and The Resultant weakening of the federation lies with the military government.

He said that it is also the case that the government’s irresponsible actions are likely to create a great power conflict because of the province’s geo- Strategic importance, and that it will again be the people of Balochistan That are the victims of this just as the Pakhtun populations further north Are falling prey to the whims of imperialism and their allies.