KARACHI, March 4: Secretary-General of Jamhoori Watan Party Agha Shahid Bugti has condemned the government for slandering Baloch leaders through media. He declared that the Baloch people would not be misled by the sinister campaign being run by the government. He said they were determined to continue their national struggle until their sovereign political and economic rights were recognized.

Talking to Dawn on Saturday, he rejected as incorrect the reports that JWP chief Nawab Akbar Bugti had suffered a paralysis and that he was offered to go broad for medical treatment.

“These reports were fabricated and a part of disinformation campaign by the government to create confusion in people’s mind,” he stated.

Shahid Bugti said it was pertinent to note that such reports had purposely been circulated on the eve of President Bush’s visit to Pakistan with an aim of confusing the international opinion viz-a-viz the Balochistan issue.

He pointed out that a statement quoting President Musharraf issued just two days before President Bush’s visit said that orders for the implementation of the recommendations of the Mushahid’s sub-committee on Balochistan issue had been issued.

“It is intriguing to note that the federal interior minister, in a separate statement, has accused Nawab Bugti of sabotaging talks. Moreover, the interior minister ruled out any possibility of talks with the JWP chief in future.”

According to Shahid Bugti, these statements were issued on the eve of the visit by President Bush, who was advised by a US congressman to raise the Balochistan issue during his talks with President Musharraf.

The JWP leader categorically stated that “Nawab Bugti has no plan to go abroad.”

He also said that no talks at any level were being held with the government.

Had the government been serious in resolving the problem through talks, the situation in that province would have been different, he said.

“Who caused the delay in implementing the sub-committee’s report? Is there any power or authority dare enough to defy the president’s orders?” he asked.

The political committee on constitutional issues headed by Wasim Sajjad which was constituted more than a year ago is yet to start its work, he regretted, adding: “We don’t know who prevents the committee from formulating its recommendations.”