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.
Mr. Bugti was absolutely right on his way. He was striving for Baloch peoples and was fighting against Army Generals. These Generals are really enemy of Pakistan. They want to bifurcate Pakistan. These Generals only want to control on economy of Pakistan only in their hands. And remember that mostly all Generals are Punjabis. They concerned with Punjab province. The Center/Federal government is purely concerned with them. So being a Pakistani i hate their plannings and pray May Allah reaches these Military Generals (Amin).
Why Musharraf had Bugti killed
http://in.rediff.com/news/2006/aug/30guest.htm
US NOW VIEWING PAKISTAN WITHOUT MUSHARRAF: STRATFOR
http://www.buzzflash.com/mediawatch/06/04/wmw06046 .html
Times to come?
It’s really interesting to see how many comments this post has generated so far. Why? Because we all have different opinions and points of view. What we do? Discussion, dialogue, sometimes argue – all in a civil and clean manner. Conclusion: Even if we differ from eachother’s opinions/likings, we can try to convince them in the best way possible not through fighting and KILLING them.
If we go through all these comments, it gets clear that most of the people are condeming the MANNER with which this situation has been dealt. Nobody is supporting feudalism or the idea of state within a state. There are various other leaders with immense control over their tribes in Pakistan but this does not suggest in any way that they should be sprayed with bullets. It’s like becoming a part of that problem without solving it. This action has given a huge platform to the people with extreme mindsets to further their agendas and missions for their own vested interests. Things will go from bad to worse. Hope peace prevails for a better and stable Pakistan.
Bugti’s body found in Kohlu cave: By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir
http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id= 2775
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/story/2006/08/0 60829_bugti_aslambeg_interview.shtml
Aslam Baig’s interview at bbc.co.uk.
Now it dosent matter how big of a tyrant he was, a murderer, a stuborn sardar or waht ever, now history will remember him as a person who didnt bowed down to a military dictator, Now he is a hero for Balouch Youth, and may be his message will be even more extreme to them. It seems as if we dont learn from our past mistakes and we have a habbit of repeating them over and over again. His death have just sparked a new soul in the cause of so called liberation and Balouchs have made htis a matter of there pride, no matter how false that mite be.