Islamabad claim on halting military operation in Balochistan challenged

Karachi: A key Baloch nationalist party has challenged the government's claim that the military operation in Balochistan has ended.

Hasil Bizenjo, secretary general of the National Party, said though a new government has been installed, hundreds of dissidents and political activists still languished in prisons and "torture cells".

"It is a lie that the military operation has been halted in Balochistan," Bizenjo told Gulf News over telephone from the remote town of Turbat.

"The military and paramilitary troops are still active on the mountains, their intelligence networks are still operational and hounding people struggling for their rights," he said. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani has said that his government was working for national reconciliation and has already ordered a halt to the operations against Baloch militants who are fighting for their economic and political rights.

Withdrawal of cases

In an attempt to quell the mini-insurgency in the tribal belt, the government has announced the withdrawal of cases against political prisoners and ordered their release. One of the biggest beneficiaries of this announcement is Attaullah Mengal, leader of the Balochistan National Movement, who is in prison for the last couple of years.

Bizenjo, whose party boycotted the 2008 general elections, claimed that not a single political prisoner has been released.

"Only those cases of treason have been withdrawn in which the government had not arrested any people," he said. "More than 900 people are missing in Dera Bugti district and more than 750 in its neighbouring Kohlu district."

Insurgency

Dera Bugti and Kohlu are considered the hotbed of insurgency where thousands of troops have been stationed especially to guard the three natural gas fields including Sui and Pirkoh that meet more than 25 per cent of the natural gas requirement of the country.

Bizenjo said he did not understand the reason behind the "false claims" of the government when it has not even ordered withdrawal of troops from places like Dera Bugti, Kohlu, Gawadar, Dilbadin and Khuzdar.