Balochistan newspapers remember Bugti

Newspapers in Balochistan paid tribute to late Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti on Sunday with supplements, editorials and special articles on his first death anniversary.

Balochistan Times, Balochistan’s oldest English language newspaper, ran a supplement on Bugti’s life and political career along with his picture dominating the front page. Balochistan Express, another English newspaper, published a four-page special supplement with an editorial titled “Remembering Nawab Akbar Bugti”, in which it held the Balochistan government and its allies responsible for Bugti’s death. “The provincial government, including both its political allies the MMA and the Balochistan National Party (Awami), are equally responsible for ... Nawab Bugti’s [martyrdom] in commando action,” commented the paper. Balochistan Express said Bugti was a “dynamic leader who thought [armed struggle] was a legitimate means to achieve Baloch rights on the pattern of China and Vietnam”. Azadi, an Urdu newspaper, also ran a four-page supplement, a lead story and an editorial about the tribal chieftain and founder of the Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP). In its editorial, the newspaper quoted lawyer Ali Ahmed Kurd as saying, “Bugti was a towering figure who was killed by very small people.”

It also quoted former Balochistan chief minister Sardar Attaullah Mengal as saying, “Nawab Akbar was initially the chief of the Bugti tribe, but has now emerged as the chief of the whole Baloch people.” Asaap published an editorial saying Bugti had written such a preface to the history of Baloch struggle that a reader did not need to go inside the book to learn more. His, the newspaper said, was a self-explanatory struggle.

Jang ran an article on its front page with a picture of Bugti and other related stories about his death anniversary. Mashriq, another Urdu newspaper, however remained totally indifferent to the occasion and printed no matter pertaining to Bugti. Awam newspaper also ran a large article along with a picture of Bugti, as well as a supplement. In the first of its two editorials, Awam billed Bugti’s killing a great national tragedy. “The entire nation denounced and mourned the killing of Akbar Bugti,” Awam commented in its editorial. 27.8.07