Akbar Bugti Killed | Bughtis announce end of Sardari system

[Neo]

ISLAMABAD (September 05 2006): President General Pervez Musharraf on Monday said the government stands for the rights of Balochistan and its people, and did not rule out possibility of foreign hand in creating law and order problems in certain areas of the province.

The government, he added, has taken numerous steps to ensure political representation of the Baloch at all tiers, ensure empowerment of the common man there, and bring backward areas of the province at par with the rest of the country.

He made these remarks in a meeting held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, which was attended by Governor Balochistan Owais Ghani, Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousaf, and senior political representatives of the province and coalition government.

After the meeting Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani along with Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Major-General Shaukat Sultan told the journalists that the President promised increase in gas royalty to Balochistan.

PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani, Federal Minister for States and Frontier Region, Yar Muhammad Rind and Federal Minister for Social Welfare Zobaida Jalal also attended the meeting.

The President said representation of Baloch has been ensured in all the government departments including the country's armed forces.

He spoke at length on the situation in Balochistan and said the government during the last seven years took conscious decisions for the political and economic empowerment of Balochistan, which remained a victim of neglect in the past.

In this regard he referred to various mega projects including the Gwadar Deep Sea Port, Makran Coastal Highway, Mirani and Subakzai dams and various other development projects to directly benefit the people. However, the President regretted that certain elements did not want to see Balochistan progressing socioeconomically.

The President listed unabated rocket attacks, existence of farrari camps, blowing up of power installations and gas pipelines, killing of Chinese engineers and law-enforcement agency personnel, targeting of settlers and attacks in Sui as some of the activities that were aimed at disrupting development activities in the province. These terrorist activities were also taken to Karachi, Lahore and other parts of the country to create law and order problem, he added.

Musharraf, however, expressed firm resolve of the government to ensure writ of the government and stressed that it was very important to bring law and order under control for the safety of the people of the province.

The President also underlined the fact that the problem existed only in small pockets of the province as most parts of the province and their people remained peaceful.

Later, in an interactive discussion, the participants exchanged views on the situation in Balochistan and expressed their full support to the government policies for the socio-economic uplift of the province.

They lauded president Musharraf for undertaking development activities in Balochistan at an unprecedented scale that will usher in an era of prosperity there. Balochistan would soon begin to see fruits of mega projects reaching the people, they added.

Later, talking to reporters, Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Muhammad Yousaf said that necessary measures have been taken to ensure law and order and protect life and property of the people. He said that anyone who challenges the writ of the law would be dealt with sternly.

On the development in Balochistan, he said record allocations have been made during the last six years for the fast-pace development of the province and some mega projects were nearing completion and would contribute immensely to the socio-economic uplift of the people.

Later on, Information minister Muhammad Ali Durrani said parliamentarians and eminent Baloch politicians have assured President General Pervez Musharraf of their full support on Balochistan situation and expressed their determination to fight those elements who were trying to harm national interests.

The minister along with Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) director-general Major-General Shaukat Sultan was briefing journalists on a meeting held here at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Pakistan Muslim League (PML) president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Balochistan governor Owais Ahmed Ghani, chief minister Jam Muhammad Yusuf, prominent politicians, parliamentarians and federal and provincial ministers from Balochistan fully backed the President's policies, Durrani said.

The minister said President Musharraf promised increase in gas royalty to Balochistan. He said the President also mentioned Baloch youth have been provided employment at Gwadar port while Balochistan's people would be given top priority for employment at the port.

He said President also directed relevant authorities to accommodate the Baloch youths in self-employment scheme and other relevant areas. The minister said, participants of the meeting agreed they would not compromise on security and national integrity of the country and would support development projects launched by the government within the province.

Senator Durrani said during the two-and-a-half-hour-long meeting President Musharraf briefed on the current Balochistan situation. He informed them about events that took place there in chronological orders.

Major General Shaukat Sultan said the President in his visit to Quetta had apologised on behalf of past regimes for ignoring the development of Balochistan. He expressed determination that the development of Balochistan would be given top priority in future and in this regard development projects amounting to Rs 135 billion had already been launched in the province.

Besides, he added, an unprecedented uplift project of Rs 2 billion was announced for Kohlu district while Rs 100 million had been announced for development projects for each district of the province.

Major General Shaukat Sultan said the President also mentioned around 15,000 Baloch youth had already been inducted into Pakistan army while parameters mandatory for induction into Pakistan army had also been lowered to ensure Baloch representation in the army.He said 7,000 Baloch youngsters had also been employed in the Frontier Corps while another 3000 would soon be inducted. Around 6000 Baloch have also been inducted in Balochistan Constabulary, he added.

 

[Neo]

RAW and Balochistan


Islamabad, September 5, 2006


India's spy network, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), has been blamed for the troubles in Balochistan province at a meeting chaired by President Pervez Musharraf.
Media reports on Tuesday did not directly quote Musharraf, except saying he "did not rule out a foreign hand" in the developments in Balochistan, the country's largest province where the situation reached a flashpoint August 26 with the killing of rebel leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti in a military operation.

"The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) pumped huge money, into the province, transferred arms and ammunition via Kishan Garh into Dera Bugti, from various routes, all of which have now been sealed," it was disclosed at the meeting, The News International said.

The accusation came amidst a low-key announcement by the foreign office of a possible meeting between Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) Summit in Havana, Cuba later this month.

Significantly, Islamabad ruled out any meddling in Balochistan by Kabul, where Musharraf is scheduled to travel later this month to confer with his counterpart Hamid Karzai.

Foreign office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said territories in Iran and Afghanistan were "being used" to foment trouble in Balochistan.

It was alleged that Indian consulates in Kandahar and the Iranian city of Zahidan were being used to send arms and ammunition to certain parts of Balochistan for creating disturbance through anti-Pakistan elements, the newspaper said, not citing any source in particular.

Musharraf said the problem existed only in small pockets of the province as most parts remained peaceful.

"The government will ensure its writ as it is very important to bring law and order under control for the safety of the people of the province," Musharraf was quoted as saying.

"All arms supply routes have been sealed both from India and Afghanistan and it is the key reason that Bugti's 'farari' (rebel) commanders started surrendering," military spokesman, Major General Sultan Shahin, said.

He said that surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), 107mm rockets and other lethal weapons were recovered by the law enforcement agencies in the province.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7598_1786410,000500020009.htm

 

[Lahori paa jee]

Govt accepts demand for DNA test

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Durrani on Friday said the government would provide every facility under the law to conduct DNA test of Nawab Akbar Bugti’s body on the request of his family.

“The government had also offered the family of Akbar Bugti to participate in his funeral rites. We are ready to extend every possible cooperation under the law for conducting the DNA test of Akbar Bugti’s body,” the minister told journalists after a ceremony held to award certificates to volunteers at the National Volunteer Movement (NVM) headquarters here.

The minister regretted that certain politicians living abroad had issued statements on the Balochistan situation after meetings with the Indian leadership.

“Such developments are not only unfortunate but also reflect the immature attitude of these politicians. The media statements on the Balochistan situation by the Indian leadership also substantiate the apprehensions of involvement of a foreign hand in the Balochistan crisis,” he said.

He claimed that the law and order situation in Balochistan and other parts of the country was improving, despite some elements’ plans to deteriorate it. He said the government would take measures to foil such efforts.

“The government wants to take all politicians along, including the opposition. The government is also implementing recommendations of the parliamentary committee on Balochistan to ensure delivery of rights to the smaller provinces,” he said.

Answering a question about the health of Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, Senator Durrani said relatives of Dr Qadeer had requested the government to make arrangements for his operation at the Aga Khan Hospital in Karachi. “A board of senior doctors had also recommended the operation. The government is making the arrangements and we pray for his good health,” he added.

On the government’s pact with tribal elders in Waziristan Agency, the minister said the government had reached an agreement with the chieftains to eliminate terrorism in the region.

Commenting on opposition’s Sept 17 public meeting, he said the government would not stop public meetings. However, he said, the opposition would have to ensure safety of the public property, adding that stern action would be taken if law and order situation was created.

He claimed that the masses wanted continuity of the system. He said the government wanted opposition’s cooperation in establishing true democracy in the country

Source

Who is Durrani trying to fool.

There is no doubt that the person in that box is Bugti. What we would like to know is the truth about the way he died

 

[sparten]

He was killed when the cave collapsed, do you really think they would have fired at the cave when there were commandos outside?

 

[Lahori paa jee]

He was killed when the cave collapsed, do you really think they would have fired at the cave when there were commandos outside?

Indeed i do not believe the governments version. They are lying and let there be no doubt that this is true

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

And his spectacles and everything was unscathed in the cave collapse! And his body alone could be recovered.

A surgical cave collapse!

 

[Sid]

His son has claimed, that those were not his father's items.

 

[blain2]

And his spectacles and everything was unscathed in the cave collapse! And his body alone could be recovered.

A surgical cave collapse!

So what? He was killed in a military operation.....5 officers also died wile trying to talk terms with him...they were shot and killed at the entrance of the cave..this is when the PAA and PAF assets opened up with A2G munitions and took out the cave...there may have been secondary explosions inside the cave as munitions were stored there..a bn commander would typically not be leading his troops during normal flushing out operations...some negotiations were being attempted when all of this happened and the law enforcement agencies responded.

The body was messed up (DNA tests were conducted) and he was burried. That is the reality of it. The political repercussions etc. are a different thing. But reardless of spectacles being scathed or not, he is dead and people have already moved on.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

You were there when he was shot in front of the cave?

What have the Pakistani newspaper and the spokesmen said?

Any recall?

A battalion commander may not lead in battle, and likewise the Bugti would not have been one to negotiate, knowing fully well that he is a hunted man!

But then, you could be right if only you provide the links of Pakistani news to this theory.

Why regardless of his spectacles being not damaged or his watch remaining squeaky new?

Ever been anywhere near any edifice or a mountain collapsing?

 

[blain2]

Ever been anywhere near any edifice or a mountain collapsing?

How about having lived in Quetta for three years between 76-79? Would that qualify me to be able to speak to the above query or being an avid hiker allow me to respond to you my know-it-all friend?

What I have posted is based on the narrative of a near relative of one of the officers who died during the recent operation. Another corroboration for the story can be found at Pakdef in a post by the first cousin of Lt Col Amer Hameed Awan who was KIA during the operation. All of the newspaper reports have said the same, the officers were ambushed...I have been around the Army and the SSG and know so fairly well that for so many officers to die (1 Lt Col, 1 Maj and 2 Capts), they were not the operators responsible for clearing a bloody cave...there were efforts made to get Bugti saheb out and once those failed then an airstrike was launched.

Contrary to what you have asserted, Bugti wanted to negotiate...this is the first time since independence that the government was unwilling to give in to all of his demands...usually the normal deal was that an insuregency would start, the government would take action and then talks used to be held and there would be peace (I say this having lived in the area right after the 73 insurgency). In the urdu press this has been widely reported (if you can read urdu, I can share a URL with you). Now as to why the other side reacted by killing the officers of the law enforcement may be open for interpretation to all...maybe Bugti's followers just did what they thought was right and opened up on the officers and he did not command them to do so...who knows what he was thinking at that time?

Here is it anyways:
http://www.ummat.com.pk/Report.ummat.com.pk/28-aug/Bughti-p1.html

The title reads "Akbar Bugti targeted by a guided missile"...read the rest if you are able to.

 

[sparten]

The officers were from 2 Commando if I am not mistaken.

 

[blain2]

The officers were from 2 Commando if I am not mistaken.

I suspect 3 Cdo as that is the Special Operations Bn now unless you know something more specific.

 

[sparten]

(PM please).

 

[Lahori paa jee]

A General`s Revenge

Since last December`s rocket attack in Kohlu, close to the venue where President Musharraf was addressing a gathering of pliable Balochi people, fears were expressed that President with a General`s mind may take the incident personally and opt for something extremely disastrous in the province. Such disaster occurred last Saturday.
The merciless killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti in a surgical army operation in the very Kohlu area, led to violent demonstrations in Balochistan, cutting off its links with the rest of the country. In recurrent acts of violence, both State and Punjabi properties were set on fire. The death toll was aside. The life in the province, and parts of the country, has really come to standstill. There are all indications that the situation at least in Balochistan may be bloodier in the days ahead.

Until Tuesday evening, six innocent lives were lost as the Balochi nationalists reacted fiercely to Bugti`s killing. The reason Punjabi residents and Balochistan and their properties were exclusively targeted was because of the widespread perception that a military-dominated regime is basically a Punjabi-dominated regime. Such perception exists because of the Punjabi domination of the Pakistan Army.

The bloody incident sent shock waves across Pakistan. The Opposition unanimously condemned it, calling for protest marches across the country. The MMA decided to reconsider its partnership in the provincial government. The political turmoil in Balochistan will worsen if the alliance of religious parties decides to quit the provincial government.

Nawab Bugti was a legendary Balochi tribal lord and a prominent national figure.In Pakistan`s sordid history, marred by serious questions of ethno-nationalistic identity, Bugti was the second Balochi Sardar who took shelter in mountain caves to wage a war of national resistance against the State of Pakistan. Nawab Rose Khan was the first Balochi Sardar, who had taken up arms against the State during General Yahya Khan`s military rule. Unlike Bugti`s brutal killing during another military-led regime, however, Nawaz Rose died a death of deception. He was lured into compromise, with State officials giving Quranic pledges for his safety. He descended from the mountains, only to find himself and his sons in Quetta jail and eventually in its death cell.

The Bugti tribe led by Nawab Bugti has been living in Dera Bugti for centuries. Few would question Nawab Bugti`s loyalty with the State of Pakistan

First, Bugti and his tribe welcomed Pakistan`s creation. He was the most vocal member of the tribal Jirga that brought Balochistan to the domain of Pakistan.

Second, there is no doubt that Nawab Bugti fought for Balochi rights, but always within the Federal context. He was never against the territorial integrity of Pakistan, and, therefore, never part of any anti-state activity. What could be no better proof of Nawab Bugti`s compromising nature than the fact that he occupied several important positions in both provincial and federal government? Bugti served twice as Chief Minister and once as Governor of Balochistan. In the Federal Government, he occupied two most important ministries of Interior and Defense.

However, Bugti`s fight for Balochi rights did take a more nationalistic turn during successive military reigns. The reason for this was that each such era was characterized by the erosion of provincial rights at the expense of a strong Centre. Balochistan being the most neglected province of the country, the level of nationalistic disenchantment in its case was always higher than other provinces during the military rule. Once again, Bugti was leading the same fight during the current military-led regime.

While Balochi grievances had been rapidly growing since General Musharraf`s coming to power in 1999, especially with the expansion of the Gawadr port and the army`s decision to construct three additional cantonments in the provincial heartland, the alleged rape incident of Dr Shazia, with the accused being an army officer, triggered the crisis that has eventually claimed the life of Nawab Bugti. Since the year 2000, the security forces were busy in combating the militant Balochi resistance fighters, including those of the Balochistan Liberation Army. Nawab Bugti emerged as the leader of Balochi nationalistic aspirations only after the alleged rape of Dr Shazia was made public by him.

After the rape incident, Nawab Bugti, who was almost 90 years old and could walk only with the help of a stick, decided to lead the Balochi movement for national rights. In March last year, clashes between Bugti tribesmen and security forces claimed some 60 lives, including 17 security officials. After the fight, a high-level delegation led by PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain tried to negotiate a compromise settlement with Nawab Bugti.

His principal grievance was regarding the share of Sui gas revenues, which had remained stagnant since the discovery and use of this principal national asset, and the fact that the people of Balochistan were its sole non-beneficiary. Nawab Bugti also represented Balochi grievances regarding the way development work was proceeding at Gawadr, where again the non-Balochi people were exclusively reaping the benefits of development.

Pursuing his traditionally compromising spirit, Nawab Bugti was in favour of having a dialogue with the representatives of the Federal government. Even after an alleged attempt on his life in June, he had publicly stated that he was ready to negotiate. But then that unfortunate incident at Kohlu took place in December. Prior to that, the Committee led by Shujaat and tribesmen led by Nawab Bugti had reportedly agreed on a number of points. There were some areas, where disagreement still existed, but headway was indeed made on a number of fundamental matters.

And then came the Kohlu incident, which principally put an end to the political process on the Balochi situation. Had there been a civilian head of state, even in the wake of such attack, the Federal government might have opted for the political option, and not abandoned it altogether. The security forces must have responded to the rocket attack incident, but only as a necessary response to a sporadic incident of militancy. What the Musharraf regime has done is to use force, and force alone, to solve an issue, which was and is essentially political.

The circumstances surrounding Nawab Bugti`s murder remain shrouded in mystery. The ISPR and government spokesmen are trying to give an impression as if the renowned Balochi Sardar was killed incidentally. However, if we go by the privately available media and public accounts of the event, it appears that Nawab Bugti and his compatriots were bombed alive in the cave in a gunship helicopter strike.

The region in question is treated as a B-Area, where residents have the right to equip themselves with arms. That army helicopters were recurrently fired upon from mountainous spot of Tratani in the Kohlu area in days before the killing of Nawab Bugti may be true. But to use such alleged instances as a guise for eliminating a person of Bugti`s stature whose commitment to Pakistan`s integrity is certified by history is a national tragedy, as the Opposition parties have also said in their protest calls.

Nawab Bugti was so old and frail that hiding in cave in the most inhospitable circumstances should have been an option of last resort for him. But, against the advice of friends asking him to abandon home for a shelter in another country, he vowed to fight and die for the Balochi rights in the land of Balochistan. This is what he told weekly Pulse in a recent interview, which is being reproduced in the present issue of this magazine. Nawab Bugti was the last person who could have any external links, against governmental allegations to this effect. Nawab Bugti was quite apprehensive of the American designs to establish bases in Balochistan, for which, he alleged, the government of Pakistan had reached an understanding with the US Government.

All said and done, the situation in Balochistan should not be expected to return to normalcy in the foreseeable future. Public anger infused by nationalistic spirit could lead to further violent episodes, and more violent response by a State led by the military junta. The ensuing spiral of violence and bloodbath could put in serious jeopardy the very question of Pakistan`s status as an integrated federal republic.

With the sheer use of forceand especially the fact that Balochistan is geographically linked and demographically negligible (if a comparison is drawn with erstwhile East Pakistan the State may overcome Balochi nationalist uproar over Nawab Bugti`s killing for a while. However, such misperceived military success that also against an alleged nationalenemy might overtime only strengthen the provincially-rooted ethno-nationalistic voices.

The dismemberment of East Pakistan, which has many parallels with the Balochi scenario should have taught a lesson by our military-led ruling elite, which is that assets of a nation, revenues from Sui gas and potential benefits of Gawadr port in Balochistan, have to be distributed equally. And that it is first and foremost the people of a province, especially if they have been linked to its land for centuries, who should reap the fruits of these assets. Nawab Bugti fought and died for a principle, and he would go down in history as it is.

http://paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?152886

 

[JK!]

Bugti did no more than to defend Baluchistans Honour