16 January 2005	Sunday	05 Zilhaj 1425

ISLAMABAD, Jan 15: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto has expressed her concern over the rising instability in Balochistan and said following the unrest in Waziristan, the writ of the state was being challenged in Balochistan.

She was talking to a delegation of Pakistanis who called on her to offer congratulations on the release of Asif Ali Zardari, says a statement issued by the party here on Saturday.

The former prime minister said there were reports that the problems around Sui arose over the rape of a lady doctor. Condemning crimes against women, she said this incident was all the more serious as it was alleged that a person in uniform had led the assault.

She called for a judicial inquiry and suspension of the official and others involved in the attack pending the inquiry. Ms Bhutto said incidents involving clashes between the population at large and personnel in uniform was not good for the image of the army.

It was important to restore the image by taking firm action against such violators of law. She said officials involved in the Okara military farms scandal, Badin fisheries scandal and Balochistan lady doctor assault needed to be proceeded against through an open and transparent inquiry to restore public confidence.

Ms Bhutto said the natural disaster in the form of tsunami was felt deeply by people of Pakistan. She said the calamity had destroyed the lives of millions of people while millions others were still threatened by disease and malnutrition.

She called upon Islamabad to review tidal wave and earthquake warning systems around Pakistan and in the sea bordering the country's coastal belt. The former prime minister also expressed concern over the spread of a skin disease in Sindh.

She called for swift medical assistance to prevent the spread of the disease and up gradation of medical institutes and hospitals to help ordinary people lead healthy lives.

Meanwhile, Chairman Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq has criticized the government for adopting a militant approach to the Balochistan crisis and sought a cool-headed assessment of the situation.

In a statement issued here on Saturday, he said the law and order situation in the country was so alarming that the citizens were feeling exposed and vulnerable. He said the Gilgit and Balochistan situation had raised new questions, basically, about the approach of the administration to solving these problems.

Mr Haq said it was encouraging that the political and tribal leadership in Balochistan had repeatedly stated that they would welcome a solution based on dialogue and understanding of each other's view point.

But contrary to their conciliatory approach, it was reported that troops were being dispatched after a very questionable declaration by General Musharraf of hitting the Baloch leadership with sophisticated weapons.

The PML-N leader said the situation should not have been allowed to come to such a pass, and even now before things get worse, those in authority should reconsider their options and priorities.

He said the best defence of the valuable and sensitive installations in Balochistan was to convince the people concerned of those areas, of the value of these installations to them as well as the rest of the country.