Killing of Akbar Bugti’s relatives: Balochistan shuts for second day

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\02\04\story_4-2-2012_pg7_2

Killing of Akbar Bugti's relatives: Balochistan shuts for second day

* Balochistan Assembly members call for formation of committee to probe deaths

By Mohammad Zafar

QUETTA: A shutter-down strike was observed in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan for the second consecutive day on Friday to condemn the killings of lawmaker Nawabzada Mir Bakhtiar Khan Domki's wife and daughter.

The deceased, who were also the sister and niece of Baloch Republican Party (BRP) chief Brahamdagh Bugti, were shot dead in Karachi on January 31. Balochistan National Party-Awami (BNP-A) General Secretary Asad Baloch and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid's (PML-Q) Nasreen Khethran staged a walkout during proceedings of the Balochistan Assembly to protest the killings. 

BNP-Awami, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and independent MPAs demanded the chief minister, who is currently in Islamabad, to immediately return to Quetta along with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to bring to justice the perpetrators of the crime. They forcefully rejected the official contention that it was a result of a tribal feud or personal enmity.

A complete shutter-down strike was observed in Sibi, Turbat, Dera Allahyar, Naushki, Khuzdar, Mastung, Hub, Washuk, Khuzdar and other parts of the province.

The strike was called by BRP and backed by the BNP, National Party (NP) and other nationalist parties.

Business and trade activities were halted as shops, trading centres, commercial establishments and educational institutions remained closed. Strict security measures were in place with the deployment of heavy contingent of security forces and law enforcement agencies during the strike. The BNP staged a demonstration in Naushki, while members of the Domki tribe took out a rally in Dera Murad Jamali demanding justice.

The killings also dominated the Balochistan Assembly proceedings on Friday.

On a point of order, BNP-A leader and provincial Agriculture Minister Asad Baloch said that the killings were part of the ongoing "Baloch genocide and ethnic cleansing". On another point of order, senior provincial minister Maulana Wasay of JUI-F, ANP's Minister for Revenue Zamruk Khan, PML-Q's Jaffar Mandokhel, provincial Law Minister Shama Perveen Magsi and provincial minister Eshan Shah strongly condemned the killings and asked the speaker to adjourn the session as a mark of protest against the Sindh government's inefficiency and to show solidarity with the Domki family.

Magsi underlined the need to constitute a committee of parliamentary parties with immediate effect to initiate talks with the Sindh government over the killings. 

Maulana Wasay, Asad Baloch and independent MPAs then held a joint news conference at the chief minister's chamber. They said the killings were part of a conspiracy to disintegrate the country.

The protesters termed the incident a failure of the Sindh government and said they had failed to protect the lives of women and children. They also held state functionaries responsible for the brutal killings. 

The provincial ministers said that it was "ruthless and inhumane" that even Baloch women were not spared. 

Wasay said that some external elements were trying to disintegrate the country by committing such acts and alleged that Interior Minister Rehman Malik was also part of this conspiracy. He said that people of Balochistan would not be pacified by the government's hollow promises.

The BRP has called for a wheel-jam strike across the province today and tomorrow to protest against the killings.