Continuing their protest against the killing of rebel tribal chief Nawab Akbar Bugti, both ruling and opposition parties in Pakistan have voiced concern over the Army operations in Balochistan with former Premier Benazir Bhutto seeking an end to alienation of the people of the restive province.
"The killing of the leader of a democratic political party (JWP) in a military operation whose party has representation in the federal and provincial legislatures will have far reaching consequences for the integrity of the federation," Bhutto, the leader of the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), said in a statement on Tuesday.
Calling for a bi-partisan parliamentary inquiry into the Army operation which culminated into the death of Bugti, she called for stopping the military operations in Balochistan and sought political solution to end the alienation of the Baloch people in particular and people of Pakistan in general.
The Constitution should be restored as it existed before the 1999 military coup by President Pervez Musharraf, Bhutto said and demanded immediate lifting of curfew in parts of Balochistan, release of protestors and handing over of the body of Bugti.
Joining the ranks of some ruling party politicians in criticising the killing of Bugti, the government's key ally Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) condemned the incident.
{{/usCountry}}Joining the ranks of some ruling party politicians in criticising the killing of Bugti, the government's key ally Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) condemned the incident.
{{/usCountry}}"Though MQM is an ally of President Musharraf's government set up, it has been expressing its reservations on the ongoing military operation anywhere in the country, including Balochistan," MQM Deputy coordinator Farooq Sattar said.