QUETTA, Sept 6: Provincial leader of the PML-N Sardar Mohammad Rafiq Siyapad has appealed to President Musharraf to stop military operation in Balochistan and release all political workers, including those arrested during the recent riots.

Addressing a press conference here at the press club on Tuesday, he alleged that ruling PML’s Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain was misguiding the president on issues pertaining to Balochistan.

He condemned the killing of Nawab Bugti and asserted that the government should have settled the issue through peaceful negotiations instead of using brute force.

Sardar Rafiq said that the army was a respectable institutions but unfortunately, some people, who were running government affairs, had defamed the prestigious institution’s image, adding that they were actually jeopardising the counry’s integrity.

He said that Punjabi settlers had been living in Balochistan for a long time and damaging their properties was against the traditions of the Baloch people, saying that it “is our tradition to protect our neighbours, irrespective of their racial or religious affiliations”.

The PML-N leader urged the federal and provincial ministers not to issue irresponsible and said that provocative statements would aggravate the situation by inflaming the sentiments of the youths following killing of the Baloch leader. Adding all of us should play positive role to restore normalcy in order to live in peaceful atmosphere in Quetta and rest of the province.