Monday, August 26, 2013

Balochistan shuts to observe 7th death anniversary of Bugti

The supporters of one of the most revered Baloch leaders, Nawab Akbar Bugti, have called a complete shutter-down as well as wheel-jam strike across Balochistan to mark his 7th death anniversary on Monday. An announcement to this effect was jointly made by Jamhori Watan Party (JWP) and Baloch Republican Party (BRP). Moreover, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Nazriaty (JUI-N) and many other political as well as nationalist parties have answered the strike call affirmatively. Transporters, trade bodies, and various social groups have also assured their full cooperation to make the strike a success. According to sources, various programmes have been arranged throughout the province to pay tribute to the late Nawab Akbar Bugti. After a wave of armed struggle started in Balochistan in 2004, Bugti was widely perceived as the leader but went underground in 2005. The government of former president Gen (Retd) Pervez Musharraf launched a military operation against him. On Saturday August 26, 2006, Bugti was killed when a shell exploded in a cave located in Kohlu about 150 miles east of Quetta, leading to widespread unrest in the area. Nawab Akbar Khan was born in Barkhan the rural home of the Khetran a Baloch tribe to which his mother belonged and now a district of Balochistan, on July 12, 1927. He was the son of Nawab Mehrab Khan Bugti and a grandson of Sir Shahbaz Khan Bugti.He received his early education from Aitchison College. He was considered one of the most highly educated Nawabs of the province. In accordance with Baloch traditions, he was made Nawab when he was just 12. He was the Tumandar (head) of the Bugti tribe of Balochs and had served as minister of state for interior and governor of Balochistan Province in Pakistan. He was detained for eight years during the dictatorship of Ayub Khan and also faced difficulties in the period of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Bugti became Governor Balochistan in 1972 and Chief Minister in 1978. He also served as defence and interior ministry.

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