July 17, 2007	Tuesday	Rajab 01, 1428

LAHORE, July 16: Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal’s Punjab president Liaquat Baloch on Monday expressed his concern over attacks on security forces in the NWFP and tribal areas, and said such a situation arose because the regime was working on an agenda dictated by Washington which the people despised the most.

In a press statement here, Mr Baloch said the death of several personnel was a grave matter, but the regime had failed to realise its gravity and dangers lurking on the entire Pakistan.

Observing that the regime’s policies had exposed Pakistan to terrorism, he said, “Gen Musharraf has become a security risk and he should resign sooner than later.”

Mr Baloch said the regime’s internal and foreign policies had endangered the country’s security and integrity.

He said even the international border with Afghanistan had become unsafe because the government had made Pakistan as a frontline state of the USA and the policies which were formulated in Washington.

He said the regime was still not allowing the bodies of students, who were killed in Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa, to be handed over to their families which was callous.

The MMA leader also criticised PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto for supporting the regime and the US on the military operation. “It seems as if Ms Bhutto has no consideration other than her personal political interests for which she is prepared even to bargain on the issues of national importance,” Mr Baloch said.