Back to Headlines

Balochistan spins out of control
by Muhammad Anwer

      Quetta: Slogans of `Azadi' are ringing all across Balochistan today. Bands of young men, carrying portraits of slain Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, are moving through various streets of Quetta and other cities in Pakistan's largest, yet poorest province, calling for their right to self-determination and provincial development. Several of these mobs today shouted anti-Punjab and anti-Pakistan slogans and expressed vociferous sentiments in support of a strong Baluch leadership. Shahid Bugti, the son-in-law of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, has called on the Pakistan Muslim League (Qaid), which led by Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, to quit the Shaukat Aziz Government. Reminding Hussain about the fact his father (Hussain's) was deeply indebted to Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, Shahid Bugti said: "With what face are still in the Government, when every person or part of our province (Balochistan) is protesting the death of Bugti Saheb." Shahid Bugti also welcomed the resignation of Makhdoom Fahim as the head of the opposition Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) in response to the mindless killing of Akbar Bugti. He said that "other political leaders in Pakistan would do well to follow Fahim Saheb's example in mounting pressure on the government." "Although, we are not clear whether Bugti saheb is dead, he has become a martyr for Baloch nationalists," Shahid Bugti added. "What can we say about a government in Islamabad, which does not hesitate to use aircraft, helicopter gunships and artillery against its own people," he further went on to say.

Balochistan heading for federal rule

      Quetta/Karachi/Islamabad: Pakistan largest, yet poorest province of Balochistan is almost certainly heading for federal rule, with a majority of Pakistan's opposition parties saying on Thursday that their members were ready to resign from the Balochistan provincial assembly, to register their protest against the killing of senior Baloch leader Akbar Khan Bugti in a military operation last Saturday. Opposition parties like the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), which is headed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) today confirmed that some of their workers and leaders had sent in their resignations to their respective party chiefs over the Bugti killing issue. The MMA leadership went one step further and said that it is seriously contemplating withdrawing its support to the incumbent government in Balochistan, thus paving the way for Governor's Rule in the province. In Islamabad, an all parties conference (APC) demanded that General Musharraf quit as President immediately and own up responsibility for Bugti's killing.

Heirs fight for Nawab Akbar Bugti's title

       Quetta: Following Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti's killing last Saturday, a feud is learnt to have arisen within the Bugti family over who will be his successor, and inherit all his 'undeclared' assets and wealth. Sources say that Nawab Akbar Bugti has left behind property worth crores of rupees. According to one estimate, the late Baloch leader used to receive Rs 670 million per annum from a "deal" that he had signed with certain oil and gas companies.

     Nawab Akbar Bugti has left behind several undeclared successors, all of whom are now reportedly out to grab the title of Nawab and claim ownership of his assets, said the paper. Sometime last year, Bugti had himself tried to declare one of his grandsons - Brahamdagh - as his successor, but could not muster the courage to do so, as it went against established Baloch tribal traditions. Additionally, the sub-tribal Waderas openly opposed the move to designate Brahamdagh as the next chief of the tribe for several reasons. According to Baloch traditions, the eldest suviving grandson, with the consent of all the sub-tribal Waderas, should be declared his successor, and in this case, Adu appears to be in with a chance. Being the eldest son of Akbar Bugti's eldest son Salim, Adu is now flexing his muscles, while hiding in mountain hideouts.

     The slain Baloch leader had three wives: a Baloch and a Pushtoon, while the third is neither Baloch nor Pushtoon. Out of his first wedlock with the Baloch woman, he had four sons - Salim Bugti, Salal Bugti, Rehan Bugti (all deceased) and Talal Bugti, who had been living in Dubai since long and has now landed in Quetta. From his Pushtoon wife Akbar Bugti had one son - Jamil Akbar Bugti. However, during his lifetime, the late Bugti chieftain promoted Brahamdagh as his apparent successor. He allowed Brahamdagh to issue decrees and give decisions by holding courts, awarding punishment and was fast emerging as the ultimate choice of the late Bugti. In the case of Adu, Akbar Bugti sent him to Sanghar to manage his lands and other affairs. Adu is reported to have never stayed in Dera Bugti for long and is not well versed with Baloch traditions.

No sign yet of Bugti's body

       Quetta: Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced late on Wednesday night that centrain body parts alleged to be that of the slain the Baloch leader, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, had been found inside a cave, but the complete body as such, has not been found as yet. The ISPR's claims have been categorically rejected by the Bugti clan. Members of the Bugti clan, who have seen the cave where Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti had gone into hiding earlier this year, said that it had a secret exit. They said that it is the norm in the area that caves and hideouts have at least one, if not many, secret exit. The Bugti tribesmen believe that the Nawab and his followers successfully slipped out of one of the secret exits during last Saturday's military operation launched by Pakistan Army commandos.

      Earlier, late on Wednesday evening, local newspaper reports quoted defence sources as saying that Bugti's body had been found under a boulder in a deep cave at Tartani in the Kohlu Hills of Balochistan. Papers like The News and the Dawn quoted the sources as saying that Bugti's body was lying under a heavy boulder inside the cave and his white-bearded head was visible. They said that once the body is taken out, it will be sent for forensic analysis and the report would be made available for public scrutiny. The sources said that a large contingent of the Pakistan Army Corps of Engineers has been tasked with the responsibility of retrieving Bugti's body, even as half-a-dozen heavy-duty helicopters shifted earth and rock-moving machinery to the site. According to the sources, two soldiers had volunteered to crawl inside the cave, and succeeded in reaching the point where Akbar Bugti's body was reportedly trapped, said one paper. The Army soldiers, who were carrying battery lights with them, spotted the body and reported it to their senior officials immediately. The sources said Bugti's body is in a crushed and mutilated state, and it will take another 48 hours before it is brought out. Meanwhile, an overpowering stench of decomposed bodies hung in the air in the area as Pakistan Army engineers sought to clear the rubble around the remote cave. A military team had to make a downward trek of around 2500 feet to reach the cave, found articles of clothing, Baloch caps, a broken camel saddle bag and a small bag of red chillies around the cave's mouth. Brigadier Abeer has said that the recovery of all the bodies could take about a week.

Back to Headlines                  Go To Top