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.
As many have mentioned, this incident will become the defining moment of the Musharraf legacy. As I was filling your survey, my F in domestic politics was mostly a factor of how this was handled. This incident will haunt us for a long time to come as a major national mistake
PICTURES OF NAWAB BUGHTI’S HOMES
All is not lie. Pictures shown are infact understatement and intentional mix uo by some idiot photographer. The writer who has venomously tried to condumn them and in the same breath jumping to tell others which special hotels he had slept in Jordan or Turkey needs to calm his anger in Public forum like this. Let me ummarize my comment on this. The concoted pictures in fact only put Nawab’s servant quarters to shame. Has any one of you inflamed persons been to Dera Bigti, Kohlu or Marri Regions? or say visited Bugti House in Quetta? Do I have to describe how rich live in Pakistan?
September 19 2006
It looks emotion and anger characterize comments I have read before 19th Sept about Nawab Bughti’s death. Most of you have based your opinions and anguish on media reading, and reporting. Here is one who can give uou some better view:
-I have met him as Chief Minister of Balochistan 1987
-I have received a Shield from him as Chief Minister over a Podium for my services to the Advancement of Bridge Engineering in Balochistan.I have built road and bridges for him to reach his home town Dera Bughti.I have stayed in his Guest house at Dera Bughti in course of my providing him motorable road from Sui.-I have walked with him in his compound after dinners and learnt quite a bit about his thoughts.
-I have met people of Dera Bughti and saw the pathetic conditions they were living in inspite of phenomenal revenue being given in cash to Nawab Sahib by Islamabad.-His “Army” can not be termed dedicated and loyal. They were young recruits from families who had to stay as hostage to Nawab in case of desertation. Balochistan’s Pakhtuns (40%) Populations hardly knew him except for Balochi Sardar holed up in Kohlu.Balochistan a has 50% of Pakistan’s land area.Its poulation is 5m. (Population of Karachi is 16m), 40% are Pathans, 30% Balochi Speaking, 15% Makrani ( pspeaking corrupted Farsi, and 15% Sindhi and Urdu speaking. None understands the other except in Urdu. Nawab Bughti was an educated man who unfortunately could not shake off his despotic manner and bitter desdain to opponents.As politician he was failure because he held all his cards to his chest and could not make friends. In the end he lost all friends and turned into a maglomanic fugitive throwing rockets at a trained military. Nawab Sahib I have watched was beyond reasoning, and given to immutable adamancy. Let me inform you all who read this. With the departure of Nawab Bughti, last vesitage of Sardari System, which British Rulers had pampered for 200 years, has eventually met its demise.
I totally agree with Pak expat and Mast Qalander ,whatever he was a man of his own principle whether right or wrong. What ever we have read in press recently most of the people have written good things about him and have criticized the gov’t of killing him,he was 80 years old man should be considerd as senior citizen.
He was in politices for almost fifty years and had positions of Governor,Chief Mininster of Bolichistan, Interior Minister of Pakistan etc but never had any coruption cases against him or was not wanted by NAB like most of other politicians no body has written that he made money because of his politices .Regarding Royality of Gas, what I have read is that when gas was discovered in 1950’s it was his land and his family had leased it to the Gov’t who were paying him the lease or rent ,there was no law in Pakistan in 50’s or even now that when oil or gas were found in your private land it will be taken over by Gov’t like in USA and other countries.
He was asking more share of revenue for his province not for himself.
people always give values to the rich man. you find people in india saying that i am gear great grandchildren of Nawabs or Shahjan(if u go to Agra) or Nizam ( in hydrabad). we are the people who gives so much values to some leaders or Landlord. i do not understand why do we give so much value to the leader????? ( in concern of Bugti). millions of people die and born everyday. millions of stars formed (In nebula) and died as supernova. millions of partivcles are in the air.millions of people in Mumbai. why are we giving so much value to one person’s death??? i really do not understand.