KARACHI: Opposition seeks end to violent excesses in Balochistan
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Aug 29: The joint opposition in Sindh Assembly termed the Kohlu incident a national tragedy and declared killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti a targeted murder.
Following the prorogation of the assembly session by Deputy Speaker Rahila Tiwana on Tuesday, the opposition leaders delivered speeches to condole the demise of Baloch leader and adopted three resolutions. They urged the Supreme Court and international institutions to take notice of the incident. Condemning the ongoing army operation in Balochistan, they claimed that they would continue striving for the rights of smaller provinces.
As soon as the opposition members took the floor when the treasury benches made an exit, power and air-conditioning units were switched off. However, despite darkness and choking atmosphere in the house, the opposition members remained seated and listened to the speeches without taking notice of the interruption of power supply.
Opposition leader Nisar Ahmad Khuhro said that they wanted to move a resolution in the house on the Kohlu tragedy which deprived the nation from an experienced politician who was former governor, chief minister and member of the national assembly and interior minister. The motion was subject to the rules of procedure. He said: “Even though the government members themselves did not approve the action in Balochistan, we were stopped from moving the motion.”
He said it was unfortunate that leaders in the opposition were killed in blasts and targeted firing. “We are not afraid to lay the life for our country. We will never give up our struggle. This is why we are sitting in the house while others who want to remain stick to power have left the house,” he remarked.
The resolution moved by the opposition leader read: “This assembly mourns the assassination of Nawab Akbar Bugti, and resolves that the loss of such an illustrious politician and eminent Baloch leader is highly condemnable, and recommends to the Sindh government to approach the federal government to ease its violent excesses and its operation in Balochistan.”
Nisar Khuhro also urged people to participate in the countrywide strike on Sept 1, called by the joint opposition to protest against the killing pf Nawab Bugti and his comrades in the army operation.
Endorsing the resolution contents moved by Nisar Khuhro, Hameedullah Khan of MMA read out his resolution stating that this assembly condemns the killing of former governor, chief minister, MNA and chief of Jamhoori Watan Party Nawab Akbar Bugti by personnel of law enforcement agencies.
Moving his second resolution demanding release of Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, he said that the person who made the defence of Pakistan strong had been detained in house on the dictates from the United States. He was not being allowed to meet even his children, Hameedullah Khan said.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah of PPP, former chief minister and federal minister, said that it was an important session and regretted that some members in the government coalition wanted to offer Fateha for Nawab Bugti but avoided adoption of a resolution. It showed the sincerity of members of coalition government, who considered the brutal murder as conspiracy but endorsed the action of President Musharraf.
The resolution which the opposition wanted to move was according to the constitution. But the deputy speaker who was presiding the house did not allow to talk about the murder of Nawab Bugti . “We condemn this attitude,” he said.
He pointed out that in the history of the country so many murders of opponent politicians had never taken place in any period as during the last six years. “The opponents are being targeted. Therefore joint opposition was striving hard to pack up the government in the province and the centre as early as possible,” he added.
Demanding judicial inquiry of the killing of Nawab Bugti, he regretted over inordinate delay in handing over the body to the heirs for burial.
MMA Parliamentary leader Maulana Omar Sadiq said that it had been the tradition of the house that every member was given opportunity to mention the names for offering Fateha but the chair cut this short depriving scores of members the right to speak. He said the killing of such a status leader was a matter of great sorrow and called upon international institutions to take its notice.
Sassui Palejo of the PPP held General Musharraf responsible for the murder of Nawab Bugti and said that the Supreme Court should take its notice. She urged the government that the situation should not be pushed to the point of no return.
Saifullah Dharejo of the PPP said that the killing of Nawab Bugti was planned. In this connection, he recalled that Gen Musharraf had threatened Baloch leaders stating that it was not 70s that they would go to mountains and hide themselves; they would now fail to locate the direction from where they would be hit.
Paying tributes to Nawab Bugti for striving for the rights of smaller provinces, Rafique Engineer of PPP termed the assassination of Nawab Bugti a target killing and demanded of the government to hand over his body to the heirs for burial.
He also condemned the Sindh government for arresting hundreds of youths in the interior of Sindh and Karachi, who were protesting against the killing and demanded their immediate release.
Farheen Moghul and Syed Murad Ali Shah of PPP also expressed their feelings.
After the meeting, all MPAs of the opposition offered funeral prayers of Nawab Akbar Bugti outside the main entrance of assembly building.
