Former Pakistani president General (Rtd.)Pervez Musharraf may be arrested for multiple killings including that of Benazir Bhutto, according to Talal Bugti, who is the chief of Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP). After meeting the president Asif Ali Zardari, Mr. Bugti told a news conference that the Interior Advisor Rehman Malik of the new democratic government of Pakistan had promised the arrest of Pervez Musharraf for several killings, most notably those of Benazir Bhutto and Akbar Bugti, but also of the people killed in Lal Masjid operation and the violence in Karachi on May 12, 2007.

Mr. Talal, who is late Mr. Akbar Bugti’s son, also told that an FIR had been lodged by JWP against Pervez Musharraf for killing Mr. Bugti. However, the FIR has not led so far to the registration of a murder case. Mr. Talal also demanded of the government to put an end to the military operation underway in Baluchistan and also to let the local residents benefit from the resources of the provinces; emphasizing that Gwadar Port’s control must be left to the Baloch people.

Mr. Talal Bugti’s stance on important issues pertaining to the peace and development in Baluchistan is strictly nationalistic as is that of other provincial governments which have been elected this time through general elections. Nearly all provinces have made important demands of the Federal government in order to get greater control of their native land and put an end to the exploitative policies of the former governments in the country. Hopefully, the current government will take serious steps in the direction of greater provincial autonomy while maintaining national unity on issues of national interest.