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Violence in Quetta
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Black day in Pak history: Sharif
Govt’s no to hand over Bugti’s body
Musharraf hails killing
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Violence in Quetta
Quetta/Karachi, August 27 Quetta was placed under an indefinite curfew. A high security alert along provincial borders and in key cities and towns of the country notwithstanding, more than 10 vehicles were burned and at least two banks and a petrol station were torched. Angry mobs burnt tyres at Saryab Road and Golimar Chowk in Quetta, but the police managed to disperse the mobs. Over 100 persons, most of them students, have been arrested, the police said adding that no casualties had taken place so far. In Karachi, tension prevailed in several areas, especially those dominated by Balochis. Enraged people gathered on roads and indulged in wanton ransacking and rioting in the localities of Patel Para, Malir, Khokharapar and Adam Hingora Goth. Security is also tight in Sukkur, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Khairpur, Ghotki, Kashmore, Larkana, Dadu, Naushehro Feroz and Nawabshah. Government officials involved with security said more than 20 members of the security forces and nearly 40 rebels had been killed in the fighting in which Bugti was killed. The army, however, confirmed the deaths of four officers and one soldier in the fighting in the province’s Kohlu district. Bugti, a former Chief Minister of Balochistan, was for years one of Pakistan’s most distinctive and respected politicians. He had to go underground early this year in the wake of a government crackdown. It forced the rebels to step up their attacks on local infrastructure, including on gas pipelines and security posts. Pakistan’s political leaders condemned the killing of Baloch leader and Jamhoori Watan Party chief, described it as a tragedy that would be followed with “lethal” consequences.
PPP chief
condemns killing
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) President Makhdoom Amin Fahim said Bugti’s death would cause “massive destruction”. Describing the army operation as an “extraordinary incident”, he said the Musharraf regime had “shocked the whole nation”. PPP Information Secretary Sherry Rehman termed the incident a great threat and danger to the federation.
Regrettable
incident: PML
Pakistan Muslim League (PML) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said Bugti’s death was regrettable and prayed that his soul rest in peace. Hussain, however, refused to answer queries relating to the future of the Balochistan struggle, saying that “I will be able to comment only after receiving details of the incident.” Sardar Akhtar Mengal, president of the Balochistan National Party (BNP), said in Quetta that Bugti’s death would have long-term negative implications. He said the Baloch nation would now go all out to seek revenge for Nawab Bugti’s murder. PML-N Secretary Information Ahsan Iqbal said Bugti’s killing was regrettable and unfortunate. PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique said the Baloch separatists were looking for a martyr sardar and the rulers had provided them with that opportunity. He said the killing of Bugti in a military operation was a conspiracy to break up Pakistan. MMA leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed said only time would tell whether “an old but alive Bugti or a dead Bugti was better for Pakistan”. Nawab Aslam Raissani, chief of Sarawan and head of the Raissani tribe, accused the Musharraf regime of perpetrating a genocide of the Baloch nation. He described Bugti as a very important leader and said the rulers could not take away his respect from the hearts of the people. MQM mourns Bugti’s death
The MQM’s self-exiled leader, Altaf Hussain, today condemned the killing of Nawab Bugti and expressed condolences with the Bugti family. He did not rule out the possibility of withdrawing support to the Shaukat Aziz government. PML office set afire
In Gwadar, Baluchis burnt down the local office of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) after hearing the news of Bugti’s killing. Hundreds of Baluchi tribesmen descended on the Muslim League office burnt the party flag and set the building on fire. Seven Muslim League activists, who were inside the building, were captured and their fate is not known.
— ANI
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Black day in Pak history: Sharif
Lahore, August 27 He said Nawab Bugti’s death was a national tragedy and would be harmful for the country’s integrity, adding that the “blood would continue to flow from this wound for a long time”. He said it was regrettable that military was being used against political leaders having different opinions. — ANI
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Govt’s no to hand over Bugti’s body
Islamabad, August 27 This decision was conveyed by the President of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League and former Prime Minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to Shahid Bugti, Akbar Khan Bugti’s son-in-law. Shahid Bugti said the family was tense and confused following this development, as some of its members were running from pillar to post trying to get some information regarding the Baloch leader’s death at the hands of the Pakistan Army in the hills of Kohlu and the whereabouts of his body. “We are trying to get the nawab sahib’s body from security forces but I have failed in any attempts to establish contact with any authority in this regard,” Shahid Bugti said.
Killing akin to Bhutto’s
hanging: relative
Quetta: In an exclusive interview with ANI, Shahid Bugti, a son-in-law of the slain Baloch leader said: “The killing of Bugti sahib is the second most dreadful political assassination in Pakistan, the first being that of Zulifquar Ali Bhutto.” Shahid Bugti further said that the Baloch people had today declared an open war against the military government in Islamabad. Political analysts said Bugti’s killing could have a negative impact on the Shaukat Aziz government and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q). The Aziz government faces a no-confidence motion on August 29 and there is a view gaining ground that it could be all over for the administration.
— ANI
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Musharraf hails killing
Islamabad, August 27 In a message to the commanders involved in the two-day operation, Gen Musharraf is believed to have described Bugti as a major irritant and obstacle to the future development of Balochistan and his removal would ensure a return of normalcy and stability to Balochistan. Meanwhile, the government has tightened security by deploying Rangers and paramilitary units in major cities to prevent a backlash in the wake of Bugti’s killing. Curfew has been imposed in Baloch capital, Quetta, for indefinite period due to the unprecedented and violent protests.
— ANI
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