PESHAWAR, Aug 31: The Grand Opposition Alliance, comprising the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Alliance for Restoration of Democracy and the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf, will observe a countrywide strike on Friday in protest against the killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.

Speaking at a joint news conference at the press club here on Thursday, MMA MNA Sabir Hussain Awan, ARD leaders Mohammad Afzal and Syed Ayub Shah and PTI leader Saad Abdullah said central leaders of the MMA, ARD and other political parties had decided to observe the strike in protest against the killing of Nawab Bugti, deteriorating law and order situation and “tampering of the military ruler with the democratic system” in the country.

They said they had appealed to organisations of traders and shopkeepers to endorse the strike call. Organisations of transport owners and drivers had also assured their cooperation to the opposition parties against the present regime, they added. They said private transport owners would not bring their vehicles on the roads on Friday.

They also appealed to parents to demonstrate their solidarity with democratic forces and not to send their children to schools on Friday.

They also appealed to the general public to observe a peaceful strike and keep vigilance on miscreants and government’s informers during the strike.

The opposition leaders said they would organise three processions, which would turn into protest meetings at Chowk Yadgar, Aabdara Chowk and on the G. T. Road.

They said they would tell the people about the alleged corruption and crimes of the military rulers and their civilian cronies.

They lashed out at the military rulers and held them responsible for the killing of Nawab Bugti. They said the government was repeating the mistake of 1971.

They said Gen Musharraf and his companions would be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution, “which they had abrogated on Oct 12, 1999, and taken the entire nation as hostage”.

They said the opposition would not accept any political role of the armed forces in the country’s affairs.