Bugti’s 4th death anniversary observed
The strike call was made by the Baloch Republican Party (BRP) and backed by all Baloch nationalist parties.
QUETTA:
A complete shutter-down and wheel-jam strike was observed in Balochistan on Thursday paralysing the business and trade activities, to mark the 4th death anniversary of late Nawab Akbar Bugti who was assassinated during a military action in a mountainous area of Dera Bugti on August 26, 2006.
The strike call was made by the Baloch Republican Party (BRP) and backed by all Baloch nationalist parties. In the provincial capital, commercial establishments, businesses and shopping centers situated on Mezan Chowk, Prince Road, Jinnah Road and other adjoining areas remained closed for the day.
However, some restaurants and chemists resumed business later in the afternoon. The roads wore a deserted look and attendance in government offices was very thin because of no public transport on the roads. All private and government educational institutions remained closed owing to the strike.
Security was on high alert in Quetta, with police and FC personnel on patrol. Security personnel continued snap checking at different check posts. People alleged that authorities intimidated the citizens.
The mass harassment the night before the strike seemed part of a scare campaign devised by law enforcing agencies against the locals in the Baloch dominated localities of Quetta.
The strike was also observed in Khuzdar, Kalat, Mastung, Lasbela, Turbat, Mand, Dera Bugti and hundreds of other smaller townships and human settlements where life also came to a halt for the day and the entire region wore an isolated look as people confined themselves to their houses. Security was tightened in these areas to deal with any untoward incidents. Heightened patrolling by FC personnel indicated the establishment’s concern regarding the erosion of government authority in Balochistan.
Talking to The Express Tribune, son of late Nawab Akbar Bugti, Jamil Bugti said that no progress has been made so far in his father’s murder case.
He said he had registered an FIR against six personnel of the former government a year ago and had nominated the names of Retired General Pervez Musharaf, former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, former interior minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, former chief minister Jam Yusuf, former governor Awais Ahmed Ghani and former home minister Shoaib Nausherwani.
“I wanted to gauge the strength of the so-called democratic government because I knew that PPP had come into power through a deal and is incapable of doing anything,” he said.
“Instead of investigating the matter, the police asked me to identify the hilly area where my father was killed along with his 70 comrades in arms.”
“I do not have any expectations from the government and other institutions, because a year ago nothing had happened even though the government assured us that red warrants would be issued if cases were registered,” he said adding that the current government is powerless.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2010.
A complete shutter-down and wheel-jam strike was observed in Balochistan on Thursday paralysing the business and trade activities, to mark the 4th death anniversary of late Nawab Akbar Bugti who was assassinated during a military action in a mountainous area of Dera Bugti on August 26, 2006.
The strike call was made by the Baloch Republican Party (BRP) and backed by all Baloch nationalist parties. In the provincial capital, commercial establishments, businesses and shopping centers situated on Mezan Chowk, Prince Road, Jinnah Road and other adjoining areas remained closed for the day.
However, some restaurants and chemists resumed business later in the afternoon. The roads wore a deserted look and attendance in government offices was very thin because of no public transport on the roads. All private and government educational institutions remained closed owing to the strike.
Security was on high alert in Quetta, with police and FC personnel on patrol. Security personnel continued snap checking at different check posts. People alleged that authorities intimidated the citizens.
The mass harassment the night before the strike seemed part of a scare campaign devised by law enforcing agencies against the locals in the Baloch dominated localities of Quetta.
The strike was also observed in Khuzdar, Kalat, Mastung, Lasbela, Turbat, Mand, Dera Bugti and hundreds of other smaller townships and human settlements where life also came to a halt for the day and the entire region wore an isolated look as people confined themselves to their houses. Security was tightened in these areas to deal with any untoward incidents. Heightened patrolling by FC personnel indicated the establishment’s concern regarding the erosion of government authority in Balochistan.
Talking to The Express Tribune, son of late Nawab Akbar Bugti, Jamil Bugti said that no progress has been made so far in his father’s murder case.
He said he had registered an FIR against six personnel of the former government a year ago and had nominated the names of Retired General Pervez Musharaf, former prime minister Shaukat Aziz, former interior minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, former chief minister Jam Yusuf, former governor Awais Ahmed Ghani and former home minister Shoaib Nausherwani.
“I wanted to gauge the strength of the so-called democratic government because I knew that PPP had come into power through a deal and is incapable of doing anything,” he said.
“Instead of investigating the matter, the police asked me to identify the hilly area where my father was killed along with his 70 comrades in arms.”
“I do not have any expectations from the government and other institutions, because a year ago nothing had happened even though the government assured us that red warrants would be issued if cases were registered,” he said adding that the current government is powerless.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 27th, 2010.