Recalling the massive response to the strike call of the combined opposition parties , Prof Ghafoor Ahmad warned that the extra-judicial killing of Bugti, and his burial by the government functionaries instead of handing his body to the heirs for performing his last rites in accordance to the Baloch traditions would be creating a wedge between the army and the nation.
Speaking at a crowded post-strike press conference at Idara Noor-i-Haq on Friday, Prof Ghafoor, who was flanked by local leaders of combined opposition parties, said whatever attitude adopted by the government towards Nawab Bugti deserved condemnation as he was a respectable leader and the entire nation equally shared the grief of the bereaved family.
Prof Ghafoor said the rulers had broken all records of lies in the case of Nawab Bugti. He said instead of showing the last glimpse of Nawab Bugti, his glasses and wrist watch have been shown.
He compared the brewing situation in the country with the circumstances of post-1970’s general elections and said the military rulers were following the same foot-steps which led to the split of the country.
The JI leader drew the attention of the army towards requirement of patriotism, saying the time had come that the army, which claimed to be champion of security of the country, should realize that its role was not to rule but to fulfill its fundamental responsibility of defending the borders.
Stressing the need for giving provincial autonomy to the provinces, he said now according provincial autonomy as given in 1973 Constitution would not be enough but an independent election commission should be constituted for holding free, fair and transparent elections in the country under the supervision of national consensus caretaker government to amend the constitution in accordance to the aspirations of people of all provinces.
He demanded immediate release of Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan so that his family members should be free to get his treatment to the place of their choice. He also called for release of all political prisoners and those activists who were being kept at unknown places after their abduction by the agencies.
Rashid Rabbani of PPP said complete strike was a manifestation of the fact that people were fed up of oppressive rulers and want to get rid of them at the earliest.
The rulers had to bear the backlash of the burial of Nawab Bugti by themselves against the wishes of his family members.
Rafique Engineer of PPP said that he received information from Lyari , Sharafi Goth and other places that police were firing teargas shells directly in houses.
Condemning the administration, he warned that in case of any casualty, chief minister Dr Arbab Rahim and home minister Rauf Siddiqui would held responsible.
Salim Zia of PML-N said the attitude adopted by the army rulers in burial of Nawab Bugti had revived the memory of late Zulfikar Bhutto’s burial in 1979.
Siddique Rathore of MMA pointed out that even those who were killed during war by enemies, their bodies were handed over to the army they belonged for their burial according to their tradition, but in case of Nawab Bugti not only Islamic and moral values but the war principles were flouted.
Amin Khattak of ANP said Bugti’s murder had hit hard the solidarity of the country and there was a need to heel the wound before it was too late.
Allama Nazir Abbas of Shia Council said that the successful strike would prove to be the last nail in the coffin of rulers.
Qamar Bhatti of JSQP said strike in Sindh and entire country was a slap on the face of those rulers who had claimed that Bugti’s popularity was limited to Dera Bugti as now he had emerged as a national hero.
Sher Mohammad Baloch of the JWP said the massive protest of people throughout the country had proved that people condemn the oppressive rulers.
Others who spoke on this occasion included Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui of JI, Aslam Ghauri of JUI-F, Qari Saeedur Rehman of JUI-S, Basharat Mirza of PDP, Said Ghauri of Sunnin Tehrik.