PONM to launch mass contact movement

Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (PONM) on Tuesday announced launching of a mass contact movement shortly "to pave the way for re-framing" of the Constitution, giving "all nations" equal rights.
PONM president Attaullah Khan Mengal told a news conference here at the Parliament Lodges that a new constituent assembly is needed to spell the constitution in a specified period in line with the spirit of 1940 Lahore Resolution. The Movement also pressed for signing of a social contract afresh on the basis of equality among Pakistani "nations".
He added that a strong federation would eliminate the role of establishment in politics and exploitation of the smaller provinces by Punjab.
However, he was quick to add that if the assembly would retain Punjab as the dominating unit, PONM would not object to it.
In order to strengthen the Federation, he contended, three subjects, ie defence, foreign affairs and currency should be retained by the Centre.
The movement, he added, outrightly rejected the Kalabagh dam, Greater Thal Canal and Gwadar Port Project.
PONM was not allowed to hold a seminar in the premises of the Lodges on Sunday, against which five senators submitted a privilege motion with the Senate the following day.
Vice-President and chief of Pakhtoonkhawa Milli Awami Party, MNA Mehmood Achakzai, a former chief minister Akhtar Mengal, BNP (Mengal) Senator Sanaullah Baloch, Rauf Mengal MNA, Jalal Mehmood Shah, Qadir Megsi, Abdul Hameed Kanju, Asghar Shahin and other PONM members were present on the occasion. They all gathered at the Lodges' basement.
Atta said that PONM would hold public meetings and demonstrations to mobilise public opinion for constitution of the assembly with equal number of representatives from all four provinces. Mengal gave details of PONM meeting held on Monday.
"Pakistan's survival lies in a strong federation, meaning thereby that all the nations should enjoy rights with total liberty to benefit from their own natural resources," he replied to a question.
The Baloch leader said the meeting also rejected the 17th Amendment, "which was designed to impose one-man's rule on the nation".
The PONM meeting, he pointed out, expressed concern over establishment of military cantonments in various parts of Balochistan, alleging that the military was preparing to launch an offensive on the nationalists.
"Are they mobilising forces and resources to defeat any other country? The only purpose of this initiative is to attack us," Attaullah alleged.
In reply to a question that had Zafarullah Jamali, a Baloch sardar, becoming prime minister did not lessen the sense of deprivation in Balochistan, he said it made no difference to them, as "he was picked" not elected.
He agreed with a questioner that feudalism was a system of toeing the establishment line, "unlike Sardari system" in Balochistan. "Feudals have always played in the hands of establishment," he alleged.
"PONM from the very beginning, was not in favour or enmity with India and in return what we earned was that we were called Indian agents. But what about those who are now trying to develop friendship.
They may also be given some tag," he said, referring to recent improvement in Pak-India relations.
Mengal said that the present rulers were going far ahead in relations with India as compared to what the nationalists had aspired for. He expressed scepticism that the Line of Control might be made a permanent border between Pakistan and India.
He said that they would not object if Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, or any other 'alliance' or party wanted to join them in their struggle.