November 13, 2007	Tuesday	Ziqa’ad 02, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Nov 12: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto has condemned the arrest of two Baloch politicians - Mir Hasel Bizenjo and Yousaf Mastikhan - on charges of treason and sedition.

In a statement issued by Ms Bhutto in Lahore and released by her media office here on Monday, she said singling out only Baloch leaders for sedition and treason would only further alienate the people of Balochistan, increase provincial disharmony and endanger the integrity of federation.

Mir Hasel Bizenjo and Yousaf Mastikhan were arrested from the Karachi Press Club for protesting against the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) and state of emergency.

Ms Bhutto said everyone in the country was protesting against the emergency and the PCO, and singling out the Baloch for treason would strengthen those who asserted that the people of Balochistan were not treated in the same manner as those in other provinces.

She said the recklessness showed that those who took this decision were intoxicated with power and unmindful of the consequences of their decisions. She called for the immediate withdrawal of cases against Mir Hasel Bazenjo and Yousaf Mastikhan.

Meanwhile, leaders of National Workers Party (NWP), Rawalpindi chapter, Masudul Hassan and Sheikh Aftab, in a joint statement, condemned implication of the party secretary-general Yusouf Mastikhan and National Party leader Hasel Bizenjo in a sedition case and demanded its immediate withdrawal. They urged all democratic and progressive forces to get united and fight against the “military dictatorship, fascist elements and imperialistic hegemony”.