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.
While every newspaper in Pakistan has commented editorially on Bugti’s manner of death, Dawn, Karachi, uncharacteristically, concluded its editorial by quoting Munir Niazi’s memorable lines in Punjabi:
“kuj shehr de laug vi zaalim san — kuj sahnooN maran da shauq vi si”
(People of this city were heartless — But I , too, wanted to die)
Incidentally, these lines and the poet were being discussed on this blog some days ago in a different context.
Jyoti
Yes the govermet says that they havent recoverd it yet, some are saying that his body is litterd with bullets, I am sure many versions will be heard till his body is recoverd.
One thing more what about the bodies of his 2grandsons?
Where is the body of Bugti? “Mystery over Bugti’s body deepens”- report in Dawn. Karachi.
http://www.dawn.com/2006/08/29/top1.htm
The death of Nawab Akbar Bugti is a sad and trageic end to a populus leader. The way this goverment is hadeling siutations such as wana and balouchistan is beyond any logic. They are talking with India on every issue but not ready to talk with own countrymen. The goverment version that the cave collapsed as a result of resonance prodcuded does not seem very convencing, if goverment havent found his dead body then how are they confirming his death by just saying that the survived tribes men pointed towards it. There have also been reposts of using chemical weapons against rebels, still which are unconfirmed.
Bugti was a feudal lord who commanded his tribe of more then 250,000 with a iron fist. Very few of the bugtis out side his close family circle are educated even to the primary level. Almost all of the tribesmen are now batteling the goverment. Bugti was no saint, and every one knows that. But again he was a politician blackmailing the goverment. The way this whole issue has been handled will jut lead to more blood shed and disturbance across Pakistan. As far as I remember I have never read or heard that he was against Pakistan he always talked about more provensial autonomy, control over goverment language was a major issue in the past.
No matter how wrong and big of a tyrant he was, by killing him like that he had been made a hero of sepratist movement and the BLA will use his death to there own advantage. He should have been captured or best solution, goverment shoul have waited for few months Bugti was already suffering from a cancer in terminal stages and would have been dead. Instead they killed him and made a hero out of him. What ever one say call him stuborn, arrogant or Proud or Tyrant but he secured his place in the history as the man who raised his voice against a dictator which now is useless to deabte if he deserved it or not, he was a brave man and hence title “Tiger of Balouchistan” does suits him.
It is sad that he had to die this way. But Adnan Siddiqi is very right, and does not need to defend himself. I support him saying that Mr. Bugti was a facsist terrorist all this long and we were hiding away from the troubles all this long! Just a few days ago I did a small piece on the BLA phenomenon. Read here