HYDERABAD, Oct 2: Nationalist leaders of Sindh and Balochistan on Sunday called upon nationalist parties of the two provinces to unite on one platform to launch a joint struggle for their rights.

They said that excesses against oppressed nations had endangered the very existence of the country and the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti had undermined the foundation of the state.

They were speaking at a condolence reference on late Nawab Akbar Bugti held at the press club.

The reference meeting was organised by the Sindh National Party.

They said that the oppressed nations could not achieve their national and democratic rights unless the interference of army in politic stopped forever.

They said that not only Balochistan but Sindh also faced same problem.

Former National Assembly speaker Illahi Bux Soomro said that late Nawab Akbar Bugti was his friend and added that he was not in the cave when he was killed.

He said that he used to meet late Bugti every month and only one week before his killing, he had talked to him and expressed his desire to meet him.

He said that Nawab Bugti had told him that if he could visit him only if he arranged a lashkar.

Paying tribute to Nawab Bugti, Awami Tehrik chief Rasool Bux Palijo said that the Baloch had not signed the 1940 Resolution nor had they opted for Pakistan.

Mr Palijo said that Balochistan was made to join Pakistan by force.

Criticising the generals, he said that Nawab Akbar Bugti and many political activists of oppressed nations were targeted by the state.

He said that water of Sindh had been closed and many a traitor had entered the corridors of power.

He said that the people of Sindh and Balochistan were now united and they would continue their joint struggle till victory.

The general secretary of the National Party, Mr Hasil Bezinjo, said that the undemocratic rulers had not even spared the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam and his sister and G.M. Syed, who had tabled the Pakistan resolution in the Sindh Assembly.

Mr Bezinjo recalled that late Z.A. Bhutto had secured the release of thousands of army personnel who were prisoners of war in India but he too was crucified.

He said that Akbar Bugti was killed for raising voice for the rights of the Baloch.

He said that some parties were talking of national rights, provincial autonomy and democracy but that the rights could not be achieved unless the undemocratic forces were defeated and the army was excluded from politics forever.

SNP chief Ameer Bhambhro said that Akbar Bugti had become symbol of resistance for the oppressed nations.

He said that not a single promise made with oppressed nations at the time of the creation of Pakistan had been honoured.

He said that the generals had always remained the de facto rulers of the country.

He stressed the need for the formation of a grand alliance of political parties of Sindh and Balochistan for launching a joint struggle.

The general secretary of the National Workers Party, Mr Yousuf Masti Khan, said that Balochistan had never opted for Pakistan.

He said that the country was being ruled by tyrants which had made it extremely difficult for the oppressed nations to remain within the present set up.

He said that the situation had become complex and added that the democratic forces would have to wage a relentless struggle against undemocratic forces and imperialism.

PPP Sindh council member Jam Saqi said that the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti had undermined the very foundation of Pakistan.

He said that if the rulers did not want to keep Pakistan intact then they should emulate Gorbachev.

Rafique Khoso, Afzal Gujjar, Qamar Bhatti, Mubashir Kaisarani, Nazeer Memon, Jan Mohammad Buledi and Dilshad Bhutto spoke on the occasion.