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Mahathir calls for end to violence in Pakistan

By IANS

Kuala Lumpur : Malaysia’s former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has called for an end to violence in Pakistan and said he was “saddened” by the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

Signing the condolence register at the Pakistan High Commission here in the wake of the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, Mahathir expressed the hope that peace would return to Pakistan.

“I hope the government can bring back peace to the country,” Mahathir, who was prime minister for over two decades, said.

Mahathir had been chief of the Organisation of Islamic countries (OIC) and of the Non-Alignment Movement (NAM) at different times. Both Malaysia and Pakistan are also members of the Commonwealth.

Benazir, 54, former prime minister and leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, was killed in a suicide attack in Rawalpindi on Dec 27.

The Malaysian government has advised its citizens to avoid visiting Pakistan and suggested that its students stay away from protest demonstrations.