Benazir Bhutto condemns murder of Balaach Marri

ISLAMABAD: Former Prime minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto condemning the killing of former member Balochistan Assembly Balaach Marri said, "it is a bad omen for the integrity of the Federation".

Balach was killed on November 20, 2007 in a military operation in Kohlu. His spokesman said that several others were also killed with him.

In a statement Thursday the former Prime Minister said that "the killing and bloodshed in Balochistan must immediately end."

Mohtarma Bhutto called for national reconciliation in Balochistan, and end of military operations, release of all political prisoners, general amnesty and compensation for all dislocated during the fighting.

The former Prime Minister said Balochistan was in danger of breaking from the Federation unless an urgent political solution was found. She called for the release of Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Sardar Salal Bugti, Mr. Sarki and others.

She recalled that in August 2006 the security forces killed Balochistan’s former Governor and Chief Minister Nawab Akbar Bugti, who headed the Bugti tribe. She said that the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti had inflamed the passions of the Baloch, particularly the young.

The killing of Balach Khan Marri would further inflame passions and could only fuel the fire burning in Balochistan, she said.

"People of Balochistan, like people everywhere, need food, clothing and shelter, and could bullets".

She recalled the earlier injustice done to Dr. Shazia Khalid at gunpoint, allegedly by security personnel in Balochistan, and the disappearances of hundreds of Baloch nationalist supporters. She said that nationalism could not be crushed by force. People could only be won over by acknowledging the rights and respecting them.

Mohtarma Bhutto said the present regime must review policies in the province and intellectuals must write about it, otherwise, without a solution, consequences for the Federation would be serious.

She said the crisis in Balochistan, like the rest of the country, was political. "We must trust our people, respect and honour them, instead of confronting them."

On behalf of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Mohtarma condoled with Nawab Khair Bux Marri. She prayed that God give him patience to bear the irreparable loss and bless the soul of the departed. PR/AR