Adil Najam
Government sources in Pakistan have just announced that Nawab Akbar Bugti, chief of the Bugti tribe, veteran politician, and senior Baluchistan leader, has been killed in a shootout between “tribal militants and government forces” in Balochistan.
This is very sad and disturbing news that cannot bode well for anyone. While details are still coming in, BBC reports:
The battle near his mountain hideout in south-west Pakistan also caused heavy casualties on both sides, reports say. More than 20 soldiers and at least 30 rebels died, officials say. The octogenarian has been at the head of a tribal campaign to win political autonomy and a greater share of revenue from Balochistan’s gas reserves. “It is confirmed, Nawab Bugti has been killed in an operation,” Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani told Reuters news agency. The battle reportedly took place near the town of Dera Bugti, not far from Mr Bugti’s hideout.
According to a newsflash posted on The News website:
Jamhori Watan Party (JWP) chief Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was killed in a historical operation carried out by security forces in Kohlu and Murree tribal areas on Saturday night, Federal Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani confirmed… Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP-P) leader Makhdoom Amin Faheem termed Akbar Bugti’s death an incident which could worsen security situation in Pakistan.
The death, and the manner of death, of the veteran Baluch leader will indeed worsen the security situation in Baluchistan and exacerbate the feeling of marginalization amongst Baluchis. Nawab Bugti had, at various points in his life, ‘butted heads’ with just about all major leaders in Pakistan. His recent standoff with the Musharraf government was not the highpoint of his own political career but it may well be the lowest point of the Musharraf rule. However, more than the implications on immediate politics – which will become more clear and more pronounced over the next many days – this marks a tragic end to the life of an important political leader.
Born on July 12, 1927, Nawab Bugto was a ‘ tribal’ who was educated at Oxford, England, Aitchison College, Lahore and Karachi Grammar School and has served as Governor and Chief Minister of Baluchistan. Mr. Bugti’s legacy was clearly a mixed one and will be much debated and much dissected. He was, however, a major leader and this was indeed a sad and tragic way to go.
Umera,
I am surprised, you say you are a lawyer and yet you have convicted Bugti without a trial. How do you assume that the court would have found him guilty and sentence him to death?
PAKISTAN MUST DO AWAY WITH ALL THESE SO CALLED NAWABS, SARDARS, MALIKS, KHANS, MIRS, MAKHDOOMS, WADARAS AND FREE THE PEOPLE. AS FOR INDIA GOES, IT IS AN ENEMY COUNTRY AND ENEMY DOES WHAT ENEMY DOES. OFCOURSE DEATH OF AKBAR BUGTI IS A LOSS TO INDIA. HE WAS DOING HER BIDDING. INDIA AND HER ALLIES MUST BE SENT THE MESSAGE.
Adnan, I am actually not naive about our judicial system at all. I am a lawyer who use to practice, until few months ago, in karachi. Our judicial system is not perfect, however, if the death was awarded by the Court it would have taken away this unnecessary show of symathy and grief of his death. The question whether court would have ever had the courage to sentence him to death and further, ensure execution of such sentence is moot and I am sure your cynicism is better placed than my idealism.
I dont know much abour nawab Akbar bughti, but i think that the conflict between Govt. & Bughti could be solved by dialogues. But now time has passed.
Jyoti:Why same media dont follow western news when mumbai blast were taken place?and by the way which western media declared bugti a hero or tiger?