Quetta, August 30
Nawabzada Hyrbair Marri has alleged that cluster bombs were used to kill Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and other tribesmen in last Saturday’s military operation in the Kohlu Hills.
Rejecting the government’s claims that Nawab Bugti had died because of the collapse of his cave hideout, Marri said the armed forces had targeted him with gunship helicopters and jet fighters.
“The story of the cave’s collapse is a propaganda ruse of the rulers to deceive the people,” Marri was quoted by The Dawn, as saying.
Issuing an appeal to the world media to visit the site of Nawab Bugti’s killing to expose the real truth behind the operation, Marri said Nawab Bugti’s death was planned and not an accident as was being touted by Islamabad.
He was reacting to a statement issued by Major-Gen Shaukat Sultan, Director-General, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), who said Nawab Bugti had not been killed by the Pakistan Army, but in an accident.
Major-General Sultan claimed that the terrain was very rugged and almost inaccessible. He said a tribesman from the Bugti clan, who was guiding law-enforcement agencies, had earlier entered the cave and confirmed the presence of people inside, including Nawab Akbar Bugti.
After sometime, the guide returned to the commanding officer of law-enforcement agencies, who then went inside the cave. During this process, the cave collapsed all of sudden, leaving all inmates of the cave dead, he said.
Maj-General Sultan said the commanding officer had gone into the cave to negotiate with Nawab Akbar Bugti for his arrest as the government had intended to take him into custody. He said there was no confirmation about the presence of any of the kinsmen of Nawab Bugti.
Giving details of the incidents between August 24 and 26, Maj-General Sultan said during the three days of engagement, seven personnel of the law-enforcement agencies were killed, including four officers, one JCO and two of other ranks.
He further said the bodies of the law enforcers were recovered on August 26 and August 27 as they had not covered much distance inside the cave and the rituals were carried out on August 28.
Nawabzada Marri, however, urged the Baluch people to unite in the face of aggression.
IANS adds from ISLAMABAD: In an effort to deflect mounting criticism of its military operation that killed Baluchistan’s separatist leader Nawab Akbar Bugti, the Pakistani authorities are now saying that the cave in which the Baluch leader, was hiding collapsed due to an explosion.
Giving the official version to counter what he called “deliberate disinformation,” Major-General Sultan, Director-General, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), said: “A guide was sent into the cave. The moment he came out, the Commanding Officer immediately rushed into the cave along with two other officers and troops. When the officers went inside the cave, a large explosion occurred and the cave collapsed.” He said a Bugti tribe guide accompanying the paramilitary forces confirmed that Akbar Bugti was inside the cave. The guide survived, as he was behind the officers at the time of the cave’s collapse.
“Yes, he (guide) met and spoke to Nawab Bugti,” The Nation quoted Maj-General Sultan as telling the media.
“Nawab Bugti was hiding in a cave that collapsed after a big explosion burying the officers who were entering the cave to talk to Nawab Bugti.” He said a heavy cache of arms had been recovered from the spot besides a box containing an amount of Rs 100 million (About $16,00,000). “Another box contains $96,000 and few papers.” He said it could have been an explosion or firing that caused the collapse of the cave. “We are not sure about it as the people who could have the knowledge were buried under the rubble. Two bodies of the officers were taken out the same evening while the remaining three bodies were taken out on August 27.” To a question, Maj-General Sultan reiterated that probably the officers went inside the cave to negotiate with Nawab Akbar Bugti but the cave collapsed. “Every effort was being made to apprehend him (Bugti) alive and not to kill him.” Giving details of the incident on August 26, near Kohlu, Baluchistan, he said he was unable to confirm the presence of Nawab Bugti’s two grandsons inside the cave.
He said army engineers had carried out a survey of the site and in their opinion the debris could only be removed manually. “Army engineers are prepared to work and the whole process, if started, will likely to take four to five days.”
He said the engineers were sent who carried out a survey of the collapsed cave. In their opinion any use of explosive to remove the rubble was likely to result in the complete collapse of the cave.
“The use of heavy machinery is also highly dangerous as a minor vibration can result into the collapse of the whole structure. There is also no place for heavy machinery to work there,” Maj-General Sultan added.
