Nawabzada Jamil Akbar Bugti Calls for Redrawing Provincial Boundaries and UN Supervised Referendum for Balochistan’s Future

Quetta:Nawabzada Jamil Akbar Bugti, the son of the late Nawab Akbar Bugti, has stated that the solution to the ongoing issues in Balochistan lies in redrawing provincial boundaries based on linguistic grounds and conducting a United Nations supervised referendum to determine whether the Baloch nation wishes to remain a part of Pakistan or establish an independent state.

In a statement issued on the 20th anniversary of the tragic Dera Bugti incident of March 17, 2005, Jamil Akbar Bugti reflected on the tragic events and the political changes that have since unfolded. He emphasized that the state’s authority in Balochistan is rapidly eroding, and the ongoing military operations have done little to restore stability.

Bugti recounted the events of 2005 when, before the attack on his father, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, by the military regime of then-President General Pervez Musharraf, the state believed that Bugti was the main figure leading the struggle for Balochistan’s rights. He mentioned the idea of a single-party struggle that Bugti presented, which was supported by many nationalist leaders and citizens across Balochistan.

However, he explained that the state forces, in an attempt to suppress Balochistan’s political leadership, initiated a series of conspiracies, including the notorious incident involving Dr. Shazia, a Sindhi woman working in the Bugti region. He alleged that this was part of a wider scheme to discredit his family and the Baloch people.

The tragic military attack on Nawab Akbar Bugti’s home on March 17, 2005, marked a turning point in Balochistan’s political struggle. Bugti described the incident as a brutal assault, utilizing ground and aerial missiles, and heavy artillery. Fortunately, Nawab Akbar Bugti survived the attack, but over 70 people, including women and children from the Hindu minority, lost their lives, and many others were injured.

Bugti further criticized the role of national and provincial political parties, stating that these parties, despite issuing public statements of support for his father, were secretly complicit in the military regime’s actions. He accused them of not standing up for Balochistan’s rights and instead siding with the military establishment.

Reflecting on the ongoing situation in Balochistan, Bugti noted that the government’s authority is continuously diminishing, with the region witnessing increasing insecurity, including kidnappings and violent incidents. He pointed out that members of the provincial government and assembly are no longer able to safely travel within their constituencies, showing the complete breakdown of state control.

In conclusion, Jamil Akbar Bugti reiterated his call for a political resolution to Balochistan’s issues, advocating for the redrawing of provincial boundaries on linguistic lines and the holding of a UN-supervised referendum to decide the future of Balochistan—whether it will remain part of Pakistan or become an independent state. He ended by paying tribute to the martyrs of the March 17, 2005, Dera Bugti tragedy and calling for justice for the victims.