Aug 30, 2010

Balochistan: Call For The Re-Demarcation of Balochistan Floated


A Baloch leader has called for the same kind of attention as East Timor enjoyed in its aims for self-determination – could this be one solution to the Baloch question?

Below is an article published by The Daily News:

 

Nawabzada Jamil Akbar Bugti has proposed re-demarcation of provinces on ethnic, linguistic and cultural basis remerging Dera Ghazi Khan, Kandkot, Kashmore, Jacobabad and other Baloch areas into Balochistan before any plebiscite is held ascertaining the will of the people to remain in Pakistan or not.

Addressing a press conference at the Bugti Bolak on the fourth death anniversary of his father Nawab Akbar Bugti, he said it was a democratic proposal and Pakistan as a civilised country should accept it.

He said the plebiscite in Balochistan should be held under the supervision of the United Nations as was done in East Timor and other areas.

Hundreds of people attended the fateha khwani for late Nawab and langar was also distributed. A large number of Bugti tribesmen, politicians, former ministers, tribal elders and political activists participated in the function. Jamil Bugti said the Pakhtuns were residing on their own national homeland and the Baloch laid no claims to their territory and resources.

He lamented the differences among the Baloch nationalist parties and appealed to them not to take their differences public, or at least avoid media in the interest of Baloch rights and unity.

Rebutting the charges that the Baloch militants were receiving Indian money, Bugti said now the Pakistan government had accepted Hindu money and had thanked India for the generosity.

He said he had received a question from the police as to where Nawab Bugti was assassinated. He deplored that the police had registered a first information report and still had not been able to locate the scene of crime.

Bugti said the government was incapable of implementing the court orders and would not arrest the culprits, particularly former army chief general Pervez Musharraf who was bid farewell with an official guard of honour. He claimed that an army captain was involved in the Dr Shazia Khalid rape case. He said the government had protected the rape accused and refused to punish him. On the contrary, Dr Shazia Khalid was expelled from the country and no inquiry report on the subject was made public. 

He condemned the role of religious parties and said that they were equally responsible for military operation in Balochistan, culminating in the assassination of Nawab Bugti. 

He said Jamaat-e-Islami was part of the MMA government in Balochistan that had made a formal request to the federal government to use the army against the Baloch people.