Benazir Bhutto demands immediate release of Kidnapped Judges
Pakistan Times Foreign Desk Report

DUBAI (United Arab Emirates): Pakistan's ex-Prime Minister and Chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party Ms Benazir Bhutto has expressed shock and concern over the failure of the government to recover two judges missing since Friday last.

Via a statement, wired on Wednesday to Pakistan's first independent daily e-newspaper, 'Pakistan Times' Ms Bhutto said that; 'the kidnapping of the judges and the failure of the regime to protect them demonstrated the deterioration in law and order'

She said that crime worsened when hardened criminals were freed from prison 'for political reasons.'

Ms Benazir Bhutto said that PPP was committed to improving law and order and preventing crime. She said that people of our country need security and it is the responsibility of the government to provide it.

Of the Peoples' Security

The ex-Prime Minister said that 'the failure of the provincial government in recovering the kidnapped judges was a proof of its abysmal failure in discharging its duty towards the people'. 'This is most condemnable', she said and asked 'if the judges are unsafe at the hands of bandits how an ordinary citizen could feel safe and secure?'

Ms Benazir Bhutto said that the foremost responsibility of any government was to ensure the protection of life and property of its citizens. Any government that failed to protect the life, honour and property of its citizens 'had no moral and legal basis to stay in office even for a day.'

'The deteriorating political situation in Pakistan's southern most province of Sindh', she said 'was the decision to keep the elected representatives of the people in the PPP out of government.'

She said it 'was tragic that judges and other professional groups were being
kidnapped due to the policies of horse trading which brought into power those least concerned with the welfare of the public.'

Expresses Solidarity with Families

Ms Benazir Bhutto expressed solidarity with the families of the judges who had been kidnapped. She assured them that the PPP would raise its voice 'for the victims of lawlessness.'

PPP is the peoples party and problems of the 'Awam' [people] were the problems it dedicated its struggle to resolving, she said by adding; 'PPP opposed the present policies which had seen villagers in the interior of the province apprehensive to go out after dusk even for emergency medical treatment for fear of dacoits and kidnappings.'
DUBAI (United Arab Emirates): Pakistan's ex-Prime Minister and Chairperson of thePakistan Peoples Party Ms Benazir Bhutto has expressed shock and concern over the failure of the government to recover two judges missing since Friday last.

Via a statement, wired on Wednesday to Pakistan's first independent daily e-newspaper, 'Pakistan Times' Ms Bhutto said that; 'the kidnapping of the judges and the failure of the regime to protect them demonstrated the deterioration in law and order'

She said that crime worsened when hardened criminals were freed from prison 'for political reasons.'

Ms Benazir Bhutto said that PPP was committed to improving law and order and preventing crime. She said that people of our country need security and it is the responsibility of the government to provide it.

Of the Peoples' Security

The ex-Prime Minister said that 'the failure of the provincial government in recovering the kidnapped judges was a proof of its abysmal failure in discharging its duty towards the people'. 'This is most condemnable', she said and asked 'if the judges are unsafe at the hands of bandits how an ordinary citizen could feel safe and secure?'

Ms Benazir Bhutto said that the foremost responsibility of any government was to ensure the protection of life and property of its citizens. Any government that failed to protect the life, honour and property of its citizens 'had no moral and legal basis to stay in office even for a day.'

'The deteriorating political situation in Pakistan's southern most province of Sindh', she said 'was the decision to keep the elected representatives of the people in the PPP out of government.'

She said it 'was tragic that judges and other professional groups were being kidnapped due to the policies of horse trading which brought into power those least concerned with the welfare of the public.'

Expresses Solidarity with Families

Ms Benazir Bhutto expressed solidarity with the families of the judges who had been kidnapped. She assured them that the PPP would raise its voice 'for the victims of lawlessness.'

PPP is the peoples party and problems of the 'Awam' [people] were the problems it dedicated its struggle to resolving, she said by adding; 'PPP opposed the present policies which had seen villagers in the interior of the province apprehensive to go out after dusk even for emergency medical treatment for fear of dacoits and kidnappings.'

Calls for Reforms

Ms Benazir Bhutto called for reforms that could divert expenditure from 'wasteful' projects to strengthening law enforcement. She noted that 'when PPP government was formed in 1988, the dacoits had Kalishnikovs while the police were still doing security duty with outdated weapons.'

The ex-Premier said PPP protected people from crime by investing money from its successful policies in development and security. Ms Bhutto called upon the authorities to recover the kidnapped judges immediately.

Three additional sessions judges were kidnapped in Shikarpur district last Friday by outlaws. One Judge was later recovered. The judges were returning in an official car from Larkana when bandits intercepted their vehicle and kidnapped the judges.

Lawyers Protest

Lawyer's community in Mirpurkhas, Dadu, Nausharo Feroze, Moro and Kandiaro wearing black armbands boycotted the courts on Monday in protest against the kidnapping and demanded their immediate release.

Ms Benazir Bhutto called for reforms that could divert expenditure from 'wasteful' projects to strengthening law enforcement. She noted that 'when PPP government was formed in 1988, the dacoits had Kalishnikovs while the police were still doing security duty with outdated weapons.'

The ex-Premier said PPP protected people from crime by investing money from its successful policies in development and security. Ms Bhutto called upon the authorities to recover the kidnapped judges immediately..

Recap

Three additional sessions judges were kidnapped in Shikarpur district last Friday by outlaws. One Judge was later recovered. The judges were returning in an official car from Larkana when bandits intercepted their vehicle and kidnapped the judges.

Lawyers Protest

Lawyer's community in Mirpurkhas, Dadu, Nausharo Feroze, Moro and Kandiaro wearing black armbands boycotted the courts on Monday in protest against the kidnapping and demanded their immediate release.●