December 30, 2007	Sunday	Zilhaj 19, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Dec 29: Civil society organisations, writers, social workers and concerned citizens have condemned what they called the cowardly assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto “who sacrificed her life for democracy, national solidarity and the rights of the poor and down trodden”.

In a meeting here Friday the Insaani Huqooq Ittehad, an alliance of civil society and human rights organisations offered heartfelt condolences to the Bhutto family and Pakistan People’s Party as well as the bereaved families of all the victims of the Liaquat Bagh rally attack.

“We believe that a conspiracy is hatched against the very survival of the Federation of Pakistan and concerted efforts are needed to heal the wounds of the nation”, a statement issued by the alliance here Saturday said.

Despite repeated concerns raised by the late leader about the imminent threats to her life, the present regime has miserably failed to provide adequate security to her, the statement added.

They asked President Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf and the caretaker government to immediately step down and form a government of national consensus in consultation with all political parties and civil society.

The Ittehad demanded constitution of an independent judicial commission, comprising of the deposed judges to conduct an inquiry into the tragedy.

“No tribunal or commission established under the existing judicial setup to probe the assassination of Ms Bhutto is acceptable to the citizens”, it said.

The alliance demanded registration of an FIR against all the people, identified by Ms Bhutto in her letter to Gen (retd) Musharraf on October 17.

Those who attended the meeting included Dr Imtiaz Alvi, Dr Abid Sulehri of SDPI, Marvi Sarmed, Mushir Anwar, Dr Arif Azad, Irum Fatima social worker Naeem Mirza Aurat Foundation, Aliya Mirza poet, Malik Shehbaz, Shabana Arif of Rozan, Amjad Aziz of Sungi.

EX-PFUJ CHIEF: Meanwhile senior journalist and former president of the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Minhaj Barna said the assassination of the “great PPP leader Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto, is grievous attack on the people of Pakistan and the country itself”.

Talking to Dawn here on Saturday, he appealed to the people to rise and get united to launch a mass movement to dislodge the dictatorial regime and restore democracy in its real form and essence.

He said unless the armed forces of the country are not forced to remain bound to their constitutional obligations and not to indulge in politics the country can not go forward and prosper.

Mr Barna conveyed his deep sense of grief and heartfelt condolences to Mr Asif Zardari and other members of the bereaved family.