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.
Adil,
Can you elaborate on your second last line? A few clues may help. I was quite young when that happened and dawn and jang were controlled media outlets in that age.
“Unexplained explosion” is the new explanation. The headline reads: “Pakistan insists security forces didn’t kill tribal leader, as anger mounts.”
If, indeed, this explanation is correct; does that change things? And if it is not, why is the government ‘shy’ of taking ‘credit’?
P.S. I remember living through another “unexplained explosion” at Ojhri Camp. Many analysts insist that had deep impacts on the future of Pakistan politics. I suspect this will too; although in, yet, “unexplained” way.
It wasto wrong to killed Akbar Bughti because he was the governor of Pakistan .I think G.Musharaf`s Government should be in danger.I do not agree that Akbar Bughti is bieng killed
Adil, this comment of mine might seem out of context but believe me, I was thinking about the current political crisis in Pakistan while watching this movie.
I was watching “lage raho Munnabhai” this weekend. The movie is a romantic commedy where a gangster meets Gandhi ji. the whole movie revolves around Gandhian principles and shows how tolerance and non-violence can still solve problems in this day and age of discord and conflicts. I was thinking about the Bugti killing while watching the movie and was wondering, will anyone think of making such a movie about Quad-e-Ajam Jinna? Because, like Gandhi ji, it seems that principles of the founder of Pakistan have also been forgotten.
The movie has taken India by storm and people are flocking to the cineamhalls to watch this movie more than one time.
Shows how much the lost generation of leaders can still influence us. We still need those leaders, if not in body, then in principles.
Empire: How Britain Made the Modern World
by Niall Ferguson
A must read to know why we are what we are and where we could end up….(Not that every word of the book would be true, but still gives a very interesting insight into the workings of the powers of the day and their effect on the peoples’ destinies)
Has anyone already read this book?