ISLAMABAD, Jan 29: Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairperson Benazir Bhutto has condemned what she said the murderous attack on the house of a PPP MNA and the death of a party worker in police custody.

A statement issued here by the party said that on January 26 the house of MNA Qurban Ali Shah in Mirpurkhas was attacked at the behest of the regime. When the PPP workers protested, the police baton charged and arrested them resulting also in the death in custody of Abu Bakr Panwer, a party worker.

The former prime minister called for an investigation into the murder of Panwer and arrest of those responsible for his death and attack on the house of Mr Shah.

She said the murder of Panwer and the attack on the house of Shah went against the declared policy of Gen Pervez Musharraf to seek national reconciliation. She said if the regime was sincere about national reconciliation it must take action against elements in the government who were involved in the unlawful acts.

She said this was the second murder following that of PPP official and UC nazim of Malir earlier this month. Earlier, MPA Dr Asad Moazam was arrested and former MNA Bajwa faced threats from the Punjab Assembly speaker.

The statement said, "following the government's reconciliation move, observers say PPP officials have been targeted more brutally. It seems that the velvet glove is to hide the iron fist where four PPP mayors were removed, four PPP strongholds gerrymandered, the seat of former prime minister bifurcated into separate districts as well as other actions denying political space to the party."

It appeared that the regime was deliberately targeting the PPP workers and crating a law and order situation just before the forthcoming local bodies elections, she said.