ISLAMABAD, Dec 20, 2005: Former prime minister and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto has criticised the deployment of military in Balochistan.

In a statement on Tuesday, the former prime minister said that violence in Balochistan was a direct consequence of imposition of military rule in the country. She said military takeovers spawned secessionist tendencies. “When the Constitution is suspended or altered against the wishes of the people and the provinces, Pakistan is weakened as violence in Balochistan demonstrates”.

Ms Bhutto said that Gen Ayub Khan’s dictatorship culminated in the alienation of East Pakistan. She said Gen Yahya Khan’s dictatorship resulted in Baloch uprising which the subsequent PPP government had to deal with. She noted that following the killing of Quaid-e-Awam, Sindh was ready to secede but PPP rescued the federation.

The PPP chairperson said that General Musharraf’s takeover had resulted in the use of military in Waziristan as well as in Balochistan. She said use of force could only further alienate the people of Balochistan.