September 05, 2006	Tuesday	Sha'aban 11, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 4: Expressing anger over the brutal killing and disgraceful burial of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, speakers at a seminar here on Monday demanded immediate end to military dictatorship and urged the opposition parties to resign from national and provincial assemblies and the Senate to express their solidarity with the people of Balochistan.

The seminar titled “Akbar Bugti’s assassination: implications for the national unity” was organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute.

Defence analyst Lt-Gen (retired) Hameed Gul condemned intrusion of military in politics. “They cannot achieve the goal of nation building. Whenever military tries to intrude they achieve nothing and instead cause harm to the country.”

He lamented that the critical role of the ruling elite and military had pushed Pakistanis to an alarming situation where they were living under the circumstances of uncertainty and scepticism.

“Powerful forces such as military, bureaucracy and newly emerged corporate imperialism has deprived the nation of its sovereignty, independence and rights. Akbar Bugti always had good relations with the establishment and supported federation. His assassination under such circumstances will lead to horrendous effects for the country.”

Balochistan National Party president Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch urged the people of Pakistan to play their role by rising against military dictators.

Lamenting the mainstream political leadership over their shaky stance on Balochistan, he said all political parties should immediately resign from the assemblies and start agitation to topple the regime.

“Whether politicians or the public whoever raised voice against it were suppressed by the government or eliminated like Akbar Bugti,” he added. By launching the military operation and assassinating the Baloch leader the army has crossed all limits. He said the prevailing situation in the country was worse than that of 1971 when half of Pakistan was lost.

“Instead of establishing educational institutions, promoting science and technology and launching development projects, the Musharraf government has been setting up cantonments just to have more control over the provinces.” He demanded that the arrested people be released and the army operation in Balochistan and Waziristan stopped forthwith.

Sherry Rehman, MNA, of the PPP urged the nation and politicians to show solidarity with the Baloch people and initiate a strong campaign against the ruling elite especially the military.

She said this was the “blackest era for Pakistan’s history after 1971.” She said there was no talk of separation in Balochistan two years ago rather Akbar Bugti wanted to negotiate with the centre when parliamentary committees were engaged in the negotiation process with him.

“The continuous use of force and extra-judicial killing of Akbar Bugti have made the situation worse.” She cautioned that Balochistan’s was a strategic and complex issue that could cause disaster to Pakistan’s federation and national unity.

Hafiz Hussain Ahmed of the MMA demanded that the government should make public details of agreements with Akbar Bugti and reports of parliamentary committees. He urged all the politicians and civil society organisations to unite against the military dictatorship.

He also rejected what he said fake explanations of the government departments to hide facts about the sad Kohlu incident.

“Every Pakistani is condemning the incident while only General Musharraf is congratulating his forces for extra-judicial crime. There are 77 Sardars in Balochistan but the government has been targeting only one because he had opposed the policies of the military, particularly General Musharraf.”

While giving a detailed account of parliamentary committee’s efforts to end the dispute, he deplored that the government was never serious to resolve the issue through dialogue and political means.

He said, “Pentagon has strategic interests in Balochistan and the military regime is facilitating them to achieve their goals.”

PML-N secretary information Ahsan Iqbal said the government not only brutally killed the federalist and centralist national leader but also buried him in a very disgraceful manner. He said the government’s refusal to hand over Akbar Bugti’s body to his family was an inhuman act which would further aggravate the feelings of his family, supporters and Baloch nation.

“We have not learnt lessons from history and rulers have again shown their moral bankruptcy by murdering a veteran politician who voted for the independence of Pakistan in 1947.

He demanded an immediate end to the military rule and restoration of parliamentary democracy in the country.