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.
Yousuf Haroon says Quaid’s advice on Balochistan ignored:
http://www.dawn.com/2006/09/01/top6.htm
Here are couple of leaders: Jam Mohammad Yousuf and Abdur Rauf Mengal both claimed that the royalty for SUI gas fields should be given to provincial assembly. However, it can be argued that was again not for love of the people of Baluchistan but to gain power against Bugti himself.
Baluchistan is shut not because of love of Bugti but because of the fear, the same reason Karachi shuts down whenever a strike is called because of threat to ones live and property. It is not for the solidarity of the cause. If I lived in Baluchsitan, or for that matter, anywere in Pakistan I would not go out not because I support the strike but because I place importance on my life and property.
Why are political leaders so upset – well because they are politicians and that is what they do – anything to over throw the government. Secondly, because they do not want this to be precedence as all of them have spoke against the state of Pakistan and have had started their own separatist movements. How can you even use their reaction as a greatness of Bugti, they are not much different from him.
Please do his memory justice and give him credit for things he did right and things he did wrong. By painting him in golden light for all his actions. You make him a hero to some and villain for others. You are taking away everything that he may have done for this country, like casting a decisive vote at the time of independence. However, his past does not reduce the implication of his actions which resulted in his death. In all his political stand Bugti wanted to make sure that he gained personally, once he found personal loss he shifted his political stance.
We may disagree about the manner of his death, but do not make him a martyr just because you do not agree with the way he died. I also do not think that was the best way for him to die but does not mean I should be blind to the man’s faults.
Azad Khan,
If you are a Pakhtoon, as you say you are, then you are the only one I have come across who calls himself a Pakhtooni. Try telling this to a Pakhtoon in Carsadda or Mardan. Anyway, it is not an important in the ongoing discusssion.
Frankly, I was not aware of an expiry date on the Durnad line. I will do some research on this.
Daktar, your info on the durand line is too weak, please page out the ref no SMD-372 for the clause where it says that the accord to be honoured in 1994 after 100 years of agreement. AND for the megazine that mentioned about Punjabis relation, the name of megazine is Unionist. You may find one old journal.
Saifulmaluk, I myself is a Pashtoon with International relation studies from Munich University Germany, I hv been long connected with our regional politics. Pakhtoons, Pashtoons, Pakhtoonis (Russians from the Red Revolution’s day call them Pakhtoonis) are similar. Your aim should be to discuss the core topic which is nationalism.
Umera, I would not agree with you that USA, UK or India have many ethinical backgrounds but they still live together. Dont you see Mexico, Ireland, Chilli, Argentina & Canada being seperate from relavent countries on the basis of ethinicity & culture and dont you hear about Tamil Nadu, Tamil Tigers. Maoest movements fighting in India for ethinical & theoritical wars.
Frankly speaking, Pakistan does not fall under any theory, nor capitalism, not socialism and never communism and even not islamization because all the four polibro-relgious theories are having number of clashes here in this country so you cannot say that one out of them is ruling the country. In Pakistan majority is stateless, minority is fighting is still fighting for freedom and the less number of individuals are running the government. I am not sure how would Pakistan welcome the globalization wave where a combined happy nation with combined interests is required.
Umera, I have a few observations on your comment:
You say, “When other leaders in Baluchistan claimed that this money should be given to province instead of Bugti for the development of Baluchistan he refused”.
Can you please name 2 or 3 such Credible leaders?
If Bugti was such a bad guy as you describe him then why is Balochistan shut today? Why aren’t the people celebrating his departure as good riddance?
Why the leaders in the current government, including Altaf Hussain, Shujaat Hussain, Zafrulla Jamali are condemning his killing?
Why didn’t the government hand over Bugti’s body to his heirs for burial?