KARACHI, April 2: The Secretary-General of the Jamhoori Watan Party, Senator Shahid Husain Bugti, on Sunday expressed concern over the arrest of Nawab Gazin Marri, son of Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, a prominent Baloch leader. Gazin Marri was reportedly arrested in Dubai and was handed over to Pakistani authorities.

When contacted by Dawn, the JWP leader said he received the news of Gazin’s arrest in Jacobabad through a local newspaper, adding that he was yet to confirm the report.

However, he condemned the reported arrest and said he should be produced before the relevant court of law if there was any case against him. He demanded that he should be tried according to the law of the country and charges against him should be made public.

He regretted that for the last three years, political activists arrested in Balochistan had not been produced in any court of law and were kept incommunicado in total violation of human rights.

The JWP senator demanded that there should be proper investigation of cases as in civilized countries, and all those detained in Balochistan should be produced before the court.

He slammed General Musharraf for using derogatory language against the Baloch leaders and for issuing warnings to crush them. Considering his hostile attitude, one cannot expect any justice and fair play, he said.

MQM: The leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf Hussain, has urged President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to ensure that Gazin Marri was treated according to the law of the land and that no false cases were registered against him.

The MQM leader said that if there was any case against him, he should be brought to court and his cases should be dealt with according to the law, he be allowed to defend himself and there be no torture.

Meanwhile, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Rabita Committee’s Convenor, Dr Imran Farooq, has also expressed concern over the arrest of Gazin Marri.

He has said that in the past thousands of MQM workers and activists were arrested and killed extra-judicially.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader urged the President and Prime Minister that Gazin Marri be produced in court.

NP: The National Party Secretary-General, Hasil Khan Bizenjo, has also condemned the arrest of Nawab Gazin Marri and urged the government to produce him in court if there was any case against him.