ISLAMABAD, Aug 27: A leading figure of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League party on Sunday joined the people from different walks of life in condoling the death of veteran Baloch nationalist politician Nawab Akbar Bugti in a military operation and stressed the need for a political solution to the situation in Balochistan.

“He (Bugti) was a friend and a prominent political figure. His death, and the manner of it, is sad and unfortunate”, said Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, the PML secretary-general in a statement.

“The battle in Balochistan is for the hearts and minds of the people, particularly the youth”, he observed and stressed the need for political solution to the longstanding problems of neglect and injustice, which are at the heart of the people’s grievances.

Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’s deputy secretary Hafiz Hussain Ahmad said Mr Bugti’s death would be disastrous for the country and asked the military to go back to the barracks.

Other political leaders, parliamentarians mostly from opposition parties, condemned the killing of chief of the Jamhoori Watan Party.

They criticised the military rulers for ‘their misadventure’ and termed the tragic incident of Kohlu a state terrorism which would have long lasting effect on politics and may harm the solidarity of the country.

Yaqoob Malik from Attock adds: Pakistan People Party and other opposition parties announced to hold a demonstration on Saturday to protest the tragic incident.

Speaking at a meeting here late Sunday PPP leaders including former president of District Bar Association, Advocate Ehsanuddin, PPP Attock chief Sher Afzal Khan, general-secretary Malik Naeem Awan and others described the tragic incident ‘the biggest political blunder of the Gen Musharraf-led military regime that had put the country’s solidarity in danger.

PPP had always opposed the military operation in Balochistan and advocated political solution to the problems through dialogue.

Describing Bugti’s killing a great tragedy, chief co-ordinator of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, Malik Hakeemn Khan, said the country was passing through a crucial stage and facing serious internal and external threats due to the faulty policies of the government.

“The ruling opportunist politicians, who always misled the people for their vested interests, could not provide stability to the country”, he said.

PML-N central committee member Wahid Murad, president Muttahida Mehnatkash Mahaz Rana Liaquat Ali Khan and others also expressed shock over the killing of Nawab Bugti and termed it harmful for the federation.

They said the state institutions had neglected and marginalized the people of the small provinces for decades and the military operation would increase their sense of deprivation. Given the Balochistan’s geo-strategic location, different multinational forces were trying to capture the province’s resources.

He said the oppressed nations of the country were being suppressed by the army in the name of “greater national interest”.

Abid Abbasi from Murree adds: Member of Punjab Assembly Advocate Shafqat Abbasi termed the killing of Nawab Bugti as state terrorism.

“Nawab Bugti was a respectable political leader who served the country as governor and chief minister of Balochistan as well as a federal minister, and his killing in such a brutal way is condemnable”, he said.

He criticised the present government for using state power and bombarding its own citizens, instead of using peaceful means to resolve issues.

He said that when Bugti had agreed to accept the Mushahid Hussain’s formula, the report of the parliamentary committee was misplaced deliberately.

PML-N leader Zulfiqar Khosa condemned the incident that has earned bad name for the people of Punjab and vowed to hold protest demonstrations in solidarity with the people of Balochistan and against the military action.

PMl-N secretary Raja Ishfaq Sarwar, told Dawn that killing of Nawab Bugti was a worst example of the use of state power against its own citizens.

Democracy is the only solution of the problems and matters should be solved through negotiation. Pakistani nation is much better than the Indians but only difference is democracy, India has experienced democracy throughout its history on the other hand our country remained under the military rule during most of the years.

Mr Raja said the PML-N convention would be converted into an agitation against the killing of Nawab Bugti. Mr Raja also condemned the attitude of the ruling party member for rubbing salt on the wounds of Baloch people by congratulating one another on the killing of Nawab Bugti.