KARACHI, June 14: PPP chairperson Ms Benazir Bhutto, condemning the “victimisation of former Balochistan chief minister Akhtar Mengal,” has warned that chasing and hounding Baloch leaders for political dissent could have serious repercussions for the federation.

In a statement issued by the PPP on Wednesday, she demanded withdrawal of ‘politically motivated’ cases against Mr Mengal, chief of the Balochistan National Party, and a political solution to the Balochistan crisis.

Ms Bhutto criticised the regime’s policy of “seeking to eliminate political leaders through abuse of judicial system,” and recalled that such narrow-minded tactics had failed and led to the disintegration of the country in the past. She told the regime to learn a lesson from the debacle and stop using force, follow the political path and refrain from judicial abuse.

It may be recalled that an Anti-terrorist Court in Karachi has declared the former Balochistan chief minister a proclaimed offender and ordered attachment of his entire movable and immovable property. He had been declared absconder in a case registered by security agencies.

Ms Bhutto said that it was shocking to note how the regime was dealing with the political issues in Balochistan. Political issues can be resolved only through political means and the use of force is counterproductive.

Sardar Akhtar Mengal is the head of a political party that has representation in the provincial assembly, besides the National Assembly and Senate. It will have serious political repercussions if a Baloch nationalist party is pushed to the wall.

The former prime minister said the turmoil in Balochistan might spill into Sindh.

She said it was significant to note that almost simultaneously a Senator and an MNA belonging to the BNP, along with legislators of other Baloch nationalist parties, had been placed on the Exit Control List. Declaring Sardar Mengal a proclaimed offender and placing Baloch legislators on the ECL were violation of fundamental rights, she said.