Balochistan marks Bugti’s death anniversary

The first death anniversary of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was observed on Saturday amidst strict security measures, while all major cities and towns of the province remained shut on Sunday in connection with a shutter-down and wheel-jam strike, called by the Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP).

Extra security forces were deployed and put on high alert in case trouble broke out, Quetta DIG Rehmatullah Niazi said. "There's a complete strike almost throughout Balochistan, but no major violent incident has been reported so far," Niazi said. Niazi said over 5,000 policemen, Frontier Corps and Anti-Terrorist Force personnel were deployed in the city. He said situation was under control in the city. There was no public transport in the provincial capital. A government official said eight people were injured during a police baton-charge on Baloch nationalists demonstrating in Wadh town, about 390-km south of Quetta.

Police and paramilitary troops patrolled deserted streets in various cities and town, detaining more than 100 people for blocking roads and burning tyres, said Niazi. The police and paramilitary troops parked armoured vehicles and manned sandbagged bunkers with guns to deter attacks.

Nationalist party leaders and other supporters wore black arm bands and raised black flags at their homes and offices in Quetta, and several other cities, witnesses said.

JWP-Brahamdagh Group observed the death anniversary of Nawab Bugti at Mian Ghundi where Quran Khwani was held and food was distributed among the participants and the poor. Akbar Bugti's son, Jamil Bugti, said the anniversary was observed according to Islamic and Baloch traditions.

Baloch women held a protest demonstration and blocked the main road at Mannan Chowk. They were chanting slogans against the government and in favour of Baloch leaders, who are fighting the security forces in the area.

Miss Fari Baloch said Nawab Akbar Bugti and many other Balochis were killed in an aerial attack. She alleged that chemical weapons were also used against Baloch leaders. She said over 7,000 Balochis were missing and they were in the custody of intelligence agencies. She said Baloch women were holding protest demonstrations to support their brothers in their struggle against the government.

JWP-Brahamdagh had announced a shutter-down and wheel-jam strike on Sunday. Jamil Bugti said a black day was observed in Balochistan against the killing of Nawab Bugti.

Various political parties and organisations including traders and transporters supported the strike call.

Another faction of the JWP, headed by Talal Bugti, would observe Nawab Akbar Bugti's death anniversary on Monday (today). Talal said the anniversary would be observed on Monday because of a shutter-down and wheel-jam strike on Sunday.

However, both brothers - Jamil Bugti and Talal Bugti -- when asked about separate anniversaries at separately called press conferences, said there were no differences in the party. Talal Bugti said there were no differences in the JWP ranks and he was the party leader. However, Jamil Bugti said Brahamdagh Bugti was heading the party and almost all party leaders were with him.

Meanwhile, a self-proclaimed spokesman for newly established militant organisation, Baloch Republican Army, Sarbaz Baloch, said they attacked security forces in Sangsila area of Dera Bugti. However, the claim could not be verified officially.

District Nazim Jafferabad imposed Section 144 in the district. Nationalist parties had announced that a public rally would be observed on Sunday.

Reports pouring in from Khuzdar said police raided houses of political workers and arrested the brother of a political worker.

Lawyers in most parts of Balochistan boycotted courts in protest against the killing of Nawab Bugti.

Agencies add:

Suspected Baloch militants blew up a gas pipeline in Dera Bugti, about 400-km east of Quetta, disrupting supplies there, police said.

Three soldiers were wounded in a militant attack in Naushki town late on Saturday.

Suspected tribal rebels also threw a hand-grenade into the house of a police constable in Quetta, shattering windows of his house and those of his neighbours, but there were no casualties, a local police official said.

Rebels also fired 14 rockets late Saturday on paramilitary security forces deployed in Pirkoh region to guard a natural gas plant, but there were no casualties, he said.

Meanwhile, administrator of Dera Bugti, Abdul Samad Lasi, said a rebel commander had surrendered with his 16 armed men on Saturday under a government-sponsored amnesty programme.

The strike was observed on the appeal of JWP, Balochistan National Party (BNP), Pakhtoonkhwa Awami Milli Party, Jamaat-i-Islami and other political parties in Mastung, Khuzdar, Qalat, Noshanki, Turbat, Panjgur, Gwadar and other areas.

The security forces after arresting BNP Central Committee leaders, Sardar Haq Nawaz and Siraj Ahmed, shifted them to undisclosed location. By Azizullah Khan 27.8.07