BHITSHAH (Matiari), Feb 25: The Sindh Qaumi Conference, held under the aegis of Awami Tehrik here on Sunday demanded abolition of governor’s office alleging it was used as a tool for interference in provincial matters.

It also called for withdrawal of military from the political arena and handing over of power to the people.

The speakers included BNP Senator Aslam Buledi, ANP's Amin Khattak, PML-N leader Siddiqul Farooque, opposition leader in Balochistan Assembly Kachkol Ali Baloch and HRCP General Secretary Iqbal Hyder. Awami Tehrik chief Rasool Bux Palijo presided over the conference.

It adopted a number of resolutions. The joint declaration read: “Present ruling military clique be promptly dispatched to barracks to perform primary job to defend the country”.

It said that Sindh, Balochistan, NWFP, Punjab and Bengal were recognised in the constitutional contract of Pakistan as thousands years old homelands thus none of them should be deprived of their historic right and rule over their homelands by demographic aggression or any other political mechanism/administrative juggleries.

The resolution termed the MQM a terrorist organistion and said that its rule over Sindh under the cover of bogus coalition with local treacherous, wadera stooges, should be thrown out and this bunch of terrorists should never be allowed to rule over destinies of Sindhis or loot their resources.

The declaration opposed direct/indirect and visible/invisible interference of centre in provincial affairs through military interventions, bureaucracy and intelligence agencies and senate should be made more powerful than National Assembly for all legislation and decision making.

“Office of governor should be abolished constitutionally because it was always used and exploited as tool of intervention in provincial matters", read the declaration which opposed redesigning geographical boundaries of provinces by state against wishes of indigenous people, especially Sindhis.

It sought election of a new genuine constituent assembly, based on equal representation from provinces to frame a new constitution as per resolutions of March 23,1940 and April 12,1946 whereby subjects of federal and concurrent lists and all resources including water, electricity, petroleum, gas ports, communications, coastal lines, minerals etc be given to provinces and defence, foreign affairs and currency be kept by centre.

Opposing 91' water accord and so-called 1994 water distribution on historical use of water, it demanded restoration of 1945 Sindh-Punjab water distribution pact and no project, detrimental to interest of Sindh or other smaller provinces, be planned/implemented whereas Kalabagh or any other dam should not be built and rejected any more cuts or diversion of Indus water.

It stated that illegal Chashma-Jehlum, Taunsa-Panjnad link canals should be closed forever and compensation of Rs100 billion be paid to Sindhi people for water thefts of last 150 years.

Another resolution said that Sindh and Balochistan felt that the ruling class of Punjab and military generals and their agents, immigrant terrorist clique which had established their hegemony, ruled over them as their conquered and occupied territories, treating them as their colonies in political, constitutional, economic, cultural and demographic contests. Therefore, such policies be abandoned and both provinces should exercise their historic right of sovereignty in their homelands.

Rejecting present NFC award on population basis, the conference termed amended award, announced by General Musharraf, as unconstitutional which doesn't meet demands of Sindh and smaller provinces.

“Sindh believes that establishment and ruling class of Punjab after 1972 through coercion and manipulation had siphoned-off financial rights of other provinces during military regimes and controlled democratic governments. Sindh should be paid Rs3,000 billion as compensation for injustice”, it said.

Condemning the murder of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, it demanded an end to military operation in Balochistan and also sought release of missing people, including Dr.Safdar Sarki, Asif Baladi and political prisoners Akhtar Mengal, Javed Hashmi, Rauf Mengal, BSO leaders and thousands of others. They should be compensated for torture, it added.