QUETTA, May 6: Leaders of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) have expressed solidarity with Jamhoori Watan Party chief Nawab Akbar Bugti and fully supported his stand against what they called atrocities committed against tribesmen in Dera Bugti. A six-member delegation of the ARD headed by its chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim visited Dera Bugti on Friday and held a meeting with Nawab Bugti at his residence. The delegation comprised Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, Nawabzada Mansoor Ali Khan, Zafar Iqbal Jhagara, Sardar Yaqoob Khan Nasar and Tehmina Daultana.

At the three-hour meeting, the ARD leaders discussed the Dera Bugti situation with special reference to the recent armed clash between FC personnel and Bugti tribesmen claiming about 80 lives. They also discussed the overall political situation in the country and in Balochistan.

Makhdoom Fahim told newsmen after the meeting that the delegation saw evidence of atrocities committed by security forces against the people of Dera Bugti. He said that while people in the government were shaking hands with Indian leaders, their attitude towards their own people was atrocious. He said that the ARD would extend full cooperation to Nawab Bugti whose party was an important component of the alliance. The leader of Pakistan Muslim League (N) Zafar Iqbal Jhagara also criticised the government’s policy and said that use of force against people demanding their rights was not acceptable.

He said that the people of Balochistan must get their legitimate rights. “The people of Balochistan are as patriotic as anybody else and nobody has the right to doubt their patriotism,” Mr Jhagara said.

The ARD leader said that the people of Balochistan were not satisfied with the package suggested by the committee headed by Senator Mushahid Hussain. He demanded that Dr Imdad Baloch, Allah Nazar Baloch and 12 other leaders of Balochistan arrested in Karachi last month be released immediately.

Ms Daultana demanded that an independent committee be set up to ascertain why a brutal operation was launched against the people of Dera Bugti and who was responsible for it.

Shamim Shamsi adds from Sukkur: Talking to newsmen on arriving here from Dera Bugti, Makhdoom Fahim expressed concern over the army action in Dera Bugti, during which, he said, attempts were made on Nawab Bugti’s life, and a large number of mortars and rockets were fired at his residence.