KARACHI, Aug 27: Leaders of various political parties and alliances have reacted strongly to the killing of Jamhoori Watan Party leader Nawab Akbar Bugti, along with some of his relatives and tribesmen, during a military action in Kohlu, Balochistan, on Saturday.

In their statements issued on Saturday night and Sunday, they held the military rulers responsible for the situation that led to the tragic incident, and reminded them that the outcome of the Balochistan military action had once again proved that use of force had never been helpful in resolving a political problem.

One of the two main opposition alliances, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, condemned the government’s policy on Balochistan whereby it had opted for using armed forces to resolve the political problem.At a meeting of its central body on Sunday, MMA leaders termed the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti ‘a great tragedy’, saying that it had proved that the military rulers did not have the ability to resolve the problems being faced by people of the country. The rulers, they remarked, had now become ‘a security risk’.

The meeting expressed the view that although the rulers had eliminated one of their political opponents by using brutal force, this would not help them resolve the Balochistan issue, rather this would complicate the same further.

The MMA meeting, condoling Nawab Bugti’s demise, feared that the way he was killed would increase hatred against the rulers in Balochistan people.

The meeting, presided over by MMA President Qazi Husain Ahmed, was attended by Secretary General Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other leaders of the alliance.

Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly, Nisar Ahmed Khuhro of the Pakistan People’s Party, condemned the rulers and termed Nawab Bugti’s demise ‘a gruesome murder’, calling on the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of the military action.

Mr Khuhro was of the view that the Nawab never compromised on principles and even sacrificed his life instead of bowing down to the cruel rulers. He said that using the armed forces against countrymen in the internal politics had always proved detrimental to the interests of the country. He pointed out that use of force in Balochistan had been resorted to at a time when there was already a growing sense of deprivation and anti-federation feelings among the people of that province.

He observed that the Kohlu operation had pushed the country back to the 1971 scenario. He also criticised an important component of the ruling coalition for taking ‘U-turn’ after giving an ultimatum to the federal government several weeks back to quit the coalition if the military operation in Balochistan went ahead.

PPP MNA Nawab Mohammad Yousuf Talpur, condemning the incident, described it as “target killing to eliminate opponent politician.”

In his statement, Nawab Talpur said the Musharraf regime was bent upon creating a situation that prevailed just before the East Pakistan by imposing its dubious policies on Balochistan, and urged all patriotic forces to rise up to save the country and the federation from disintegration.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has also condemned the killing of Nawab Bugti and his companions by security forces.

Terming the incident ‘a great tragedy’, MQM chief Altaf Hussain said: “We have always opposed the military operation in Balochistan as we believe that use of force cannot help resolve such a problem, rather it aggravates the same.”

Chairman of the National People’s Party Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, condemning the killing of Nawab Bugti, said that the tragic incident would not have taken place had the government implemented the recommendations of the parliamentary committee on Balochistan.

He said that the Balochistan issue could only resolved only through political means.

Observing that the country was, at present, passing through a difficult phase, he urged people to exercise restraint and maintain peace and harmony.

Jeay Sindh Mahaz leader Abdul Khalique Junejo strongly condemned Nawab Bugti’s killing, and said that his death was not only an irreparable loss to Baloch people, but also a great set-back for the oppressed nations of Pakistan.

He said that the Kohlu operation had proved that the rulers had not learnt any lesson from the 1971 debacle and still believed in handling political and national issues by using brute force.

He assured Baloch people of full support from Sindhi people in their struggle for national rights.

Senior politician Mairaj Mohammad Khan vehemently condemned the killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and his companions in a ‘pre-planned military operation in Kohlu’.

He said Nawab Bugti would always be remembered as a ‘martyr’ and ‘hero’ who laid down his life for the rights of

Baloch people, while General Musharraf would be remembered as a ‘tyrant ruler’ who had now added yet another ‘black chapter’ to the history of Pakistan.

Ghinva Bhutto, Chairperson of PPP-SB, condemned Nawab Akbar Bugti’s killing as ‘assassination’, saying: “It was the worst example of state terrorism which would cast a negative impact on national politics…. the implications could be beyond the rulers’ imagination.”

She said that use of force in resolving political issues had always resulted in failure as was evident from the case of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Mir Murtaza Bhutto.

She said that her party fully supported the struggle by the people of Balochistan who had fighting for their legitimate rights.

Chairman of the Sindh National Front Sardar Mumtaz Ali Bhutto, vehemently condemned the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti and his men by the security forces, saying that they had been eliminated for raising, like other nationalists, their voice against plunder of their motherland, PPI adds.

“The cruel rulers, by assassinating the people like Nawab Bugti, have posed a threat to the very foundation of the country,” he said.

Referring to what the security forces have been doing in Balochistan over the past few months, he said: “This is a case of genocide, treachery and betrayal and should be tried in the International Court of Justice.”

Sardar Bhutto said the people of this country should take a serious note of the situation that had now become intolerable. He urged masses to take to the street as only this way they could protect their country from the tyranny of the rulers.

Meanwhile, the SNF and other nationalist parties forming the Sindh Qaumi Ittehad, have convened an emergency meeting of the SQI on Monday in Karachi to discuss the Kohlu incident and the situation arising out of it.

Chairman of the Sindh National Party Ameer Bhanbhro, strongly condemning the killing of Nawab Bugti, Mir Balach Marri and other people in Kohlu incident, announced a three-day mourning across Sindh.

The Sindhi Association of North America, condemning the killing of Nawab Bugti and his companions, termed the military action ‘a heinous crime’ by the military-led government.

President of the Association Aziz Narejo said in a statement said that the assassination of the Baloch leader would change the dynamics of the Baloch struggle. It would heighten tension, widen the gap between the federation and smaller federating units, and create lethal conditions that would engulf the whole country, as witnessed in 1971.