13 January 2005	Thursday	02 Zilhaj 1425

KARACHI, Jan 12: Senior politician Mairaj Muhammad Khan has expressed concern over the sequence of events initiated by the reported gang-rape of Dr Shazia Khalid by law enforcement personnel in Sui , rocket attacks on gas pipelines by unknown elements, severe damage to the gas plant in Sui, termination of gas supply on large scale, and the threatening response of Gen Musharraf to the nationalist forces in Balochistan.

Mr Khan said that despite the disturbing events, the government must avoid a policy of armed confrontation; otherwise the situation would gravely deteriorate.

He said there was still time for the government to initiate talks on the problems of the people of Balochistan, especially the question of provincial autonomy with Baloch nationalist leaders like Sardar Attaullah Khan Mengal, Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, Dr Abdul Haye Baloch, Mr Mahmood Khan Achakzai and others, so that sensitive problems could be resolved through dialogue.

Pointing out the need for serious dialogue, he said these leaders had struggled and sacrificed for the rights of the people and autonomy of the province, and were not in anyway against the integrity and security of Pakistan.

Mr Khan said, "If we can seek to settle our outstanding problems with India through negotiations and peaceful means, then why can't we adopt the same attitude with our Baloch compatriots."