25 September 2004	Saturday	09 Shaban 1425

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KARACHI, Sept 24: The PML-N has said that instead of resorting to the use of brute force in Balochistan, the government should hold meaningful dialogue with Baloch leaders to acquaint itself with the genuine grievances of Balochistan people.

The grievances have resulted from the government's wrong decisions and faulty policies pursued over the past several years, it said citing the sense of alienation prevailing in the people of Balochistan.

Information secretary Siddiqul Farooq of PML-N, talking to a group of newsmen on Friday, warned the government of serious implications if sentiments of Balochistan people were ignored.

In this regard, he mentioned the experience of the former East Pakistan, pointing out that the use of force always resulted in more destruction and hostility as witnessed in the case of US onslaught in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Mr Farooq said that the situation in Wana was also aggravating where armed forces were also suffering casualties. In reply to a question, he said: "Some of the demands put forward by Baloch leaders may be not genuine, but the same could be sorted out through a dialogue."

Commenting on the opposition's strength, the PML-N leader said: "The dictatorial policies of the regime are reinforcing the opposition parties and their movement has already picked up momentum."

He cautioned that the rulers' policies of compromising on national interest could inflict irreparable losses to the federation. In this regard, he stressed the need for a check on the regime's extra constitutional measures and said that all patriotic forces which believed in the rule of law and democratic values were getting closer to each other in order to evolve a national consensus on various issues.

On the issue of uniform, he said although his party had never accepted Gen Musharraf either as the COAS or president, it expected that he would honour his commitment to doff his uniform by December 31 to bring an end to the controversy and pave the way for the appointment of a 'full-time COAS'.

In reply to another question, Mr Farooq said that the PML-N did not pin any hope on generals who, he claimed, had never come up to the expectations of the nation in terms of their responsibilities, i.e to defend the country's territorial boundaries.

"There are quite a large number of generals who, at present, are in quest of material gains, rather than having some concern over the frontiers." About law and order in the country, the PML-N leader pointed out that when Gen Musharraf and Shaukat Aziz were not safe, then how could a common citizen could be sure of his safety and security.