Author: Press Trust of India
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: August 30, 2006
Faced with widespread violence following the
killing of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf
has warned that strict action would be taken against anyone who harmed the
country.
"Whoever wants to harm Pakistan nationally
or internationally would have to fight with me first," he said, stressing
that no one would be allowed to harm the country while he remained in power.
In his first public comments since violence
broke out last weekend following Bugti's killing in a military encounter,
Musharraf told a public meeting in the summer resort of Murree elements opposed
to the development and prosperity of the country would be dealt "with
iron hands'.
"No compromise would be made on (the)
country's stability and interest. Government during last five years has taken
several initiatives for the development and prosperity of Balochistan that
has not been taken in last 50 years," he was quoted as saying in the
media.
However, as Opposition parties alleged that
Bugti's killing would further alienate people of Balochistan from Pakistan,
he said his only demand from the people of the province was to "love
Pakistan".
Meanwhile, Pakistan's Opposition lawmakers
slammed the government for the military operation in Balochistan that killed
Baloch rebel leader Nawab Akbar Bugti as also for corruption, price hikes
and failure to maintain law and order.
During a debate in the National Assembly on
a no-trust motion they had moved against Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz last
Wednesday, leaders of the Moderate Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD)
and Islamist Muthahida Majlis Amal (MMA) accused the government of killing
civilians in military operations in tribal regions and southwestern Balochistan
province.
They also said the government's foreign policy
has failed. Since the killing of Bugti on Saturday, the Opposition has made
it the prime focus of its campaign against the government.
