Akbar Bugti Death: Balochistan issues arrest warrants for Musharraf, Aziz

Provincial government forwards arrest orders to federal government on Balochistan High Court’s directives.

QUETTA:

More than four years after the death of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti, the Balochistan government has issued warrants for the arrest of federal government members in charge of the operation which ended his life.

Former president Pervez Musharraf, former prime minister Shaukat Aziz and former chief minister Jam Yousaf are wanted by the provincial government, sources have revealed.

The matter now rests with the federal government, after the provincial government followed the Balochistan High Court’s wishes.

Earlier this month, Justice Qazi Faez Essa, the Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court, had called for those connected with the incident who currently live abroad to be returned to Pakistan.

The provincial government forwarded the arrest orders to the federal government on the BHC’s directives.

Bugti, a former Minister of State for Interior and Governor of Balochistan, was killed on August 26, 2006, after a long stand-off with the Pakistani military. Musharraf said his death was a victory for Pakistan; however, news that Bugti was killed sparked mass protests in Balochistan.

Following a period of terrorism in the province, Bugti was blamed as the leader responsible for the violence. He was eventually killed in Kohlu, about 150 miles east of Quetta.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2011.