'Bugti tribesmen besiege 300 para troops in SW Pakistan'
By Shakeel Tariq - Pakistan Times Staff Correspondent

QUETTA: Armed tribesmen in Balochistan have besieged some 300 paramilitary soldiers, provincial governor said on Sunday, asking the tribal chief to lift the siege.

Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani said that local commandant in the town of Dera Bugti, some officers and members of soldiers’ families have also been besieged in the paramilitary compound by armed members of Bugti tribe.

Situation in the area has been tense since a gunbattle between the paramilitary soldiers and Buti tribesmen on Thursday, which has left eight solders and 23 tribesmen. Some 50 on both sides were injured in clashes, which the officials say started after a convoy of soldiers was attacked.

Stable but Tense

“The situation is stable but tense,” the governor said.

He said the Butgi tribesmen have blocked roads dugged bunkers along roads.He said that the people have evacuated Dera Bugti on the orders of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.

But a spokesman for Bugti’s Jamhoori Watan Party has denied the government claims and said no such orders have been issued. He added that the area has now been controlled by the Butgi armed men. He said the authorities are supplying essential commodities by helicopters due to roadblocks.

The Governor asked Nawab Akbar Bugti to help in bringing normalcy to the area and peacefully resolving the problem. Owais Ahmed Ghani said the government had invited opposition parliamentarians and journalists to review the situation but because of security problem the visit was postponed. He asked Nawab Akabr Bugti to help restore peace to pave the way for the visit. He also urged the Baloch leader to evacuate the bunkers.

Recap

The federal government on Saturday deployed regular troops in Sui to step up security for the gas installations there. The tribesmen demand greater political and economic rights.

The chief, Nawab Akbar Bugti, said there is serious shortage of food in his area and that the authorities have blocked food supply.

Talking to a private television channel on Sunday, Owais, noted that the situation in the province in general and Dera Bugti in particular is tense. However, no untoward incident took place after 17th March but the blockade of roads leading to the area by Bugti tribesmen is the main reason behind this tension.

Responding to a query, he said Ch Shujaat Hussain had talked to Nawab Akbar Bugti. We too want to contact Mr Bugti but we have been unable to do so so far, he added.

Governor Balochistan said that provincial government also invited parliamentarians from government and opposition benches and team of media men to personally visit Sui area to review the situation.

He also dispelled the reports that more troops have been called for military operation in Dera Bugti. FC personnel are already present in the area but they are besieged, he maintained.

Peaceful Solution

Addressing a press conference Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani, said President General Pervez Musharraf wants to have peaceful solution of Balochistan issue.

He said that President Musharraf talked to him over telephone an hour ago and expressed the resolve by government to explore all avenues of political dialogue and peaceful means to defuse and solve the issues of the province.

He said that although no firing took place since March-17 in Dera Bugti, the tension remainined high. The city has been evacuated on the orders of Nawab sahib and now only armed Bugti tribesmen are seen in the area, he said adding that all approach roads to sui and Dera Bugti have been blocked, trenches have been dug with tribesmen taking positions.

The Governor of Balochistan disclosed that through an FC Jawan, the government learnt that Bugtis are roaming in the FC uniform. We have advance intelligence that a tailor from Rahim Yar Khan has been called to Dera Bugti and was asked to stich 200 uniforms of FC and this was the major concern for which visit by Parliamentarians and media to Dera Bugti was postponed yesterday, said the Governor of Balochistan.

Advice to Bugti

The government cannot afford any mishap at this critical juncture. He advised Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti to open the area for visit by free media and Parliamentarians. The government does not intend to hide anything, he said. Political process and dialogue was the only path to solve this ugly situation, he said.

Whenever a political breakthrough comes into sight, some unfortunate incident derails the entire process, he deplored appealing to all the stake holders to come forward for finding a peaceful solution. After Sui incident a major breakthrough was in sight when this incident occurred claiming many lives on both sides, he said.

The government does not expect negative approach from a seasoned politician like him. We believe that he might not be in the knowledge of things on the ground, said Governor Balochistan.

Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani said that government has the knowledge that besides Bugtis there are some other people in the area. When asked about these people, he said that men from Marri tribe were seen in the area besides Bugtis.●