KARACHI, March 18: Leaders of various political parties have expressed their concern over the tragic incident in Dera Bugti on Thursday, and asked the government to resolve all problems being faced by people of Balochistan through peaceful means. Opposition leader in senate Mian Raza Rabbani said that the loss of many precious lives and the damage to properties in that incident was regrettable. He attributed the tragic development in Balochistan to the prevailing political system which, he claimed, was a product of the rigged elections through which the major sections of local population had been denied representation in the elected houses. This, he added, was also resulting in renewed threats to the federation.
Senator Rabbani, who is also Deputy Secretary-General of the PPP, said: “It is unfortunate that due to the flawed policies of this government, civilians and security forces are now engaged in an armed conflict. The people of smaller federating units feel deprived of their righteous share in the economic resources. Their contention is strengthened by the fact that the government has failed to announce a new NFC Award.”
He was of the view that formation of unconstitutional water committees and non-existence of a council of common interests had heightened the tension between the federation and federating units.
Mr Rabbani said that in the given situation called for bringing the smaller provinces into the political mainstream in order to reduce the tension and strengthen the federation. “This can be achieved only by holding free and fair elections immediately.”
PPP-SB Chairperson Ghinva Bhutto condemned the action taken by the law- enforcement agencies against Bugti tribesmen that left many innocent civilians dead. She said that the military rulers, instead of learning a lesson from their past mistakes, were pushing people of Balochistan to the wall. This, she said, would prove dangerous for the integrity of the country.
Ms Bhutto deplored that first they breached the sanctity of ‘Chader and Chardeewari’ by carrying out raids on the camps of Marri tribe, and then resorted to killing innocent civilians in Dera Bugti.
She demanded an inquiry into the incidents and called for the withdrawal of troops from Balochistan areas to pave the way for a durable peace in that province, saying that durable peace could not be established through military means.
The Karachi chapters of Baloch Students Organisation (BSO) and Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) on Friday staged a joint protest rally outside the Karachi Press Club. The participants raised slogan against the army operation in Balochistan.
The participants, holding banners and placards in their hands, were addressed by Saleem Baloch, Dr Nawaz Inqilabi, Abdul Qayoom Shah, Abdul Wahab Baloch and Sher Mohammad Baloch.
Condemning the action by law-enforcement agencies in Dera Bugti on Thursday, they referred to reports suggesting that about 70 people had been killed or injured there, and appealed to international human rights bodies to play their due role in getting the army action stopped.
