HYDERABAD, Sept 3: Awami Tehrik chief Rasool Bux Palijo has said that Baloch leader Akbar Bugti has been killed because of the absence of democratic government in the country.

Speaking at a demonstration held by activists of the Awami Tehrik outside the Hyderabad press club, he urged democratic parties and nationalist groups to unite on one platform against the autocratic government.

He said that undemocratic people and dictators had been ruling the country for 60 years, who had destroyed Quaid-e-Azam’s Pakistan.

He said that for all practical purposes, Pakistani people had remained slaves and provinces had been deprived of their constitutional rights.

He said that Nawab Akbar Bugti had never compromised with undemocratic rulers and throughout his life, he had struggled for the rights of Baloch people.

He also severely criticized the MQM chief for maintaining a discreet silence on the murder of Bugti.

Mr Palijo said that the people were fed up with the present rulers adding that the rulers had forfeited their right to govern and should therefore resign.

Meanwhile, protest demonstrations by various political parties against the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti continued on Saturday and Sunday.

Sindh Hari Committee president Azhar Jatoi said that Akbar Bugti was a martyr and a national hero and a beacon for oppressed nations.

He was speaking at a condolence meeting held at the party secretariat here on Saturday.

He said that cantonments in Pakistan were not established for development of neglected areas but to harass oppressed people.

He said that the misfortune of the country was that it had always been ruled by generals.

He said that Punjab had always imposed its supremacy over smaller provinces and deprived them of their resources.

He said that Pakistan was not created by any general but by the people of federating units.

He said that the rulers were a security risk for the country.

Akbar Jatoi said that the rulers were living in a fool’s paradise if they think that the people of the smaller provinces would surrender their rights following assassination of Akbar Bugti.

He said that Nawab Bugti had become a symbol of struggle for the oppressed nations. Alam Memon advocate and A.D. Noonari spoke on the occasion.

Activists of the Pakistan Human Rights Forum, led by Mehboob Sangi and activists of the MSF-N, led by Roshan Baloch, also staged protest demonstrations outside the press club in protest against the killing of Nawab Bugti and his associates.