October 10, 2006	Tuesday	Ramazan 16, 1427

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QUETTA, Oct 9: Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Nasir Ahmed Khuhro has condemned the killing of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti and called upon democratic parties to launch a joint struggle against the military dictatorship to restore constitutional rule.

Mr Khuhro was speaking at a news conference here on Sunday after offering Fateha at the Bugti House along with family members of Nawab Bugti. He was accompanied by a 20-member delegation of the People’s Party Parliamentarians, Sindh.

He paid tribute to Nawab Bugti for his great sacrifice while challenging the oppressors and protecting the resources and rights of the people of Balochistan.

He said the leader died but refused to surrender to the dictatorship.

Leader of the Opposition in the Balochistan Assembly Kachkol Ali and provincial PPP president Nawabzada Lashkari Khan Raisani were present on the occasion.

Mr Khuhro held army rule responsible for the political crisis and lawlessness in the country and maintained that the political parties could rid the nation of the dictatorship only through a united struggle.

He asserted that the smaller provinces, especially Balochistan, suffered most from the plunder of their resources.

He said the discretionary funds of the Punjab chief minister were more than the total allocation for the Public Sector Development Programme of Balochistan.

He said that in spite of President Pervez Musharraf’s claims the government had failed to finalise the National Finance Commission award transparently to the satisfaction of smaller federating units.

He said the Balochistan issue was political and it could only be resolved politically but the arrogant rulers had decided to settle it by force, pushing the country towards a serious crisis.

He said the unjust action in Kohlu had created disharmony between the people of Balochistan and Punjab.

The PPP leader strongly pleaded for cessation of hostilities in Balochistan and Waziristan and maintained that all political issues should be resolved through a political spirit.

He said the country’s leadership abroad should be aloud to participate in the political process to take the country out of the present mess.