QUETTA, Sept 18: Leaders of opposition parties on Monday condemned the killing of former governor Nawab Akbar Bugti and cautioned that the government’s policy was dangerous for the stability of the federation and mistrust among the federating units was widening which was not in the interest of the nation.
They were addressing a rally held at the Sadiq Shaheed ground by the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy, Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement, Awami National Party and Tehrik-i-Insaf. They said the only solution to the present crisis was to empower the provinces and give them control over their resources.
A resolution adopted at the rally demanded restoration of genuine democracy, maximum autonomy for the provinces, end to military operations in Balochistan and Waziristan, release of political workers and permission to former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif to return to the country.
It rejected the Legal Framework Order, the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, the National Security Council, the political role of the army and intelligence agencies, establishment of cantonments in Balochistan and merger of levies into police.
The resolution paid tribute to Nawab Bugti and demanded exhumation of his body by an international medical board under the supervision of the Human Rights Commission to ascertain the cause of death.
Speakers unanimously stressed the need for all opposition parties to form a grand alliance to launch a decisive political movement against the Musharraf regime to rid the nation of military dictatorship which, they said, was the root cause of disharmony between Punjab and the smaller provinces.
A group of youths continuously raised slogans against the state and demanded resignations from the assemblies.
PONM chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who presided over the meeting, said Punjab’s leadership must realise the gravity of the situation, particularly in Balochistan and Pukhtunkhwa. He maintained that without giving equal rights to the Baloch people, Pukhtuns, Sindhis and Seraikis, no one could ensure a stable Pakistan.
He called upon Raja Zafarul Haq of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) to convene a meeting of the leadership of the provinces or political parties to determine the nature of future relationship among the federating units with recognition of each other’s rights.
He said he could persuade the Baloch and Pukhtun leaders to adopt a policy of accommodation if Punjab’s leadership responded positively.
Zafarul Haq condemned the killing of Nawab Bugti.
He supported ANP leader Asfandyar Wali Khan’s assertion that the provinces must have powers to control their resources and said that oppression and injustice could not keep the people of the country united.
He said Pakistan was not facing any external threat but the domestic strife had weakened the solidarity of the nation.
Asfandyar Wali said anti-people rulers had pushed the political leadership to the wall and now they could either surrender to the dictator or try to snatch their rights. He said the ANP would challenge the rulers.
He asserted that without recognising the federating units’ right to financial power over their resources there would be no harmony between the federation and the smaller provinces.
Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi of the People’s Party Parliamentarians said the mammoth gathering was a clear message to Islamabad that the Baloch, Pukhtuns, Sindhis and Seraikis had lost patience after excesses of the past 59 years.
He said that the Baloch and Pukhtuns should not hold the whole of Punjab responsible for backing the dictatorship as there were two classes in the province, one was supporting the anti-people policies of the establishment and the other was as deprived as the people in smaller provinces.
He said there was hope to save the federation if the rulers did not repeat the mistakes of the past and recognised the rights of people.
Dr Hayee Baloch of the National Party said the Baloch people were proud of Nawab Bugti’s brave struggle. He said the rulers had been denying political rights to the Baloch and the usurpers were looting the resources of Balochistan.
He said people of Punjab should play their role in restoring the constitutional rule so that the federating units could get their rights.
ARD leader Iqbal Zafar Jhagra said the opposition alliance would launch a civil disobedience movement to protect the integrity of the state.
Sardar Akhtar Mengal of the Balochistan National Party (Mengal) alleged that the rulers had been killing Baloch people for the past 60 years. He said the country’s security forces first targeted the people in Kalat in 1948.
He said that since 1958 the Baloch had faced five military operations but now the usurpers had changed their tactics by killing their elderly leader and burying him in the absence of his heirs.
He warned that the Baloch would not accept any more excesses of Punjab backed by the army.
He said that if the Baloch were not given their rights they would adopt a course to protect their motherland.
Imran Khan of Tehrik-i-Insaf criticised the rulers for suppressing the smaller provinces and said Nawab Bugti had fought like a lion challenging the autocratic rulers.
He urged the leaders not to contest elections under the present set-up. He said the election should be held under an impartial caretaker government to hand over power to elected representatives.
Tehmina Daultana, Hamiduddin, Amanullah Kanrani, Naheed Malik, Munir Hussain Gailani, Manzoor Gailani, Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani, Nawabzada Mansoor Ali and Majid Kanjo also spoke.
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