Editorial: The Last Nawab

No single date left such a lasting impression on the society and politics of Balochistan like August 26^th,2006. It was, no doubt, “Balochistan’s 9/11” when the province’s former governor and elected chief minister Nawab Mohammad Akbar Khan Bugti was brutally murdered by the democracy-blind military dictator, General Pervez Musharraf.

Balochistan marks today (August 26^th) the fourth death anniversary of the top Baloch leader who was killed by a military dictator incapable of resolving political disputes on the negotiation table. Similar to the previous anniversaries, political parties across Balochistan are observing this as a “black day”. They have given the call for a complete shutter down strike and wheel jam to condemn the abominable assassination.

August 26^th is one such day on which all people of Balochistan, irrespective of their ethnic affiliations and conflicting political views, mourn collectively. Every citizen of the country’s poorest province recalls the arrogant assault on an old ailing man who fought for the democratic rights of the people of Balochistan.

Late Nawab Bugti was in fact a staunch democrat who did not shut his doors for all forms of negotiations. He was the last man Islamabad could negotiate with on the ever-worsening situation of Balochistan. By killing Bugti, Islamabad has not been able to find the right person in the last four years to talk to.

Bugti’s high-profile political assassination was condemned not only nationally but internationally. Everyone saw it as a smug offensive by a military dictator on someone who spoke for the just rights of his people. Throughout his political career, Bugti was never anti-Pakistan. He was, much to the disappointment of nationalists, a federalist who believed in coexistence with Pakistan. What he demanded was not independence for Balochistan. He stood for maximum provincial autonomy for Balochistan and other provinces of Pakistan. In Bugit’s interpretation, the federal government should solely deal with foreign affairs, defense and currency while rest of the other subjects should be devolved to the provinces.

Bugti’s killing, however, gave birth to a very different generation of young Balochs who went a step further by shutting all the doors of dialogue with Islamabad. With grandson Nawabzada Bramdagh Bugti as the successor, the younger followers of the late Nawab today only talk of an independent Balochistan. They are unwilling to compromise on anything less. This generation is beyond anyone’s control and is gaining more popularity and acceptance in the Baloch society due to its harsh stance.

Nawab Bugti was in fact the last Nawab of Balochistan with whom Islamabad could hold talk as he was a man whose decision would surely be accepted by all major stakeholders in the province. With him brutally killed, the conflict in Balochistan has even slipped from the hands of sardars and nawabs. Now it is the middleclass educated people like Dr. Allah Nizar Baloch and his like-minded folks who call the shots in Balochistan. Their interpretation of ‘rights’ and definition of ‘struggle’ is very disconcerting for Islamabad to cope up with.

Four years after the shocking murder, no final official report has been publicized yet to confirm what actually happened on August 26^th, 2006. The circumstances under which the great Baloch leader was killed still remain a mystery. Even many people find it hard to believe that the Nawab had actually been killed because the military regime refused to show the body locked in the coffin to the family members of the nationalist leader. Disappointingly, he was buried in the absence of his family members and, worse still, in the presence of deadly family members as a mark of humiliation.

The Pakistan Peole’s Party, which has experienced the trauma of losing its founding leader Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and chairperson Benazir Bhutto, should conduct a thorough investigation of Nawab Bugti’s murder. Agreed, the PPP has not been able to investigate the murder of its own two top-most leaders, the situation in Balochistan will not normalize until the murderers of Nawab Bugti, particularly former President Pervez Musharraf and governor Balochistan Owais Ahmed Ghani are brought to justice.

The people of Balochistan as well as Pakistan must be granted the right to accurate information as to how Bugti was killed and whose decision it was to give a humiliating burial to a former chief minister and governor.

The government of Balochistan should declare August 26^th as a provincial holiday every year to pay respect to an elderly political leader who preferred to die instead of surrendering before a belligerent military dictator. In addition, the incomplete debate in the Balochistan Assembly about renaming the Quetta international airport as Nawab Bugti International Airport should be resumed and completed as soon as possible. Since the people of Balochistan collectively share Nawab Bugti as their hero, the province’s capital airport should be named after him.

11 Responses to Editorial: The Last Nawab

Dedagh Gorgage

August 26, 2010 at 9:17 am

The perpetrator of Balochistan’s 911 is Pakistan’s ethnic punjabi army and ISI which are sheltered under USA umbrella, it is true that this discourteous low mannered Punjabi army willing to do any dirty job its being told by its Masters for the sake of US dollars but this Punjabi speaking army is our enemy number one, and baloch make them pay next 100 years in Balochistan, and Inshallah Balochistan will be a quick sand for them comming days. They are under estimating Baloch resolve but next generation of Baloch will make sure that looting of Balochistan’s resources not a piece of cake.
Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and Balaach Mari give their lives to show Baloch youth the real destination and it is not too far.
No matter how dumb and deaf international civilized world is about Pakstani state torture, abduction and killing of Baloch youth but future is ours no body can take it from US.

Balochistan Sabz Bath
zrombesht

August 26, 2010 at 9:19 am

A question to the editor: Do you think all those mountaineers would give up their armed struggle if Parvez Musharraf and Awais Ghani are brought to justice for the extra-judicial killing of Nawab Bugti?
Admin

August 26, 2010 at 9:44 am

@ZROMESHT: The editorial has the answer to your question. Read it again, please.

Editor
Pingback: The Last Nawab « Malik Siraj Akbar writes
Rahnabard

August 26, 2010 at 12:16 pm

I salute the editor for mustering the courage to put the record straight, reminding us that the Shaheed Nawab was a federalist and was wise enough to avoid blind adventurism and mindless violence. Shaheed Nawab’s JWP was the only broad based party having cadres from all ethnic groups living in Balochistan. Parvez Musharraf killed the most patriotic Pakistani in Balochistan by murdering Shaheed Nawab.
Khalid Hayat Jamaldini

August 26, 2010 at 3:21 pm

As a Baloch how can I forget Nawab Akbar Bugti, who sacrificed his life for my freedom?
As a Baloch how can I forget Balach Muree, who gave up his youth for my freedom?
As a Baloch how can I forget the patriots of my nation, who lost their live for my freedom?
As a Baloch how can I forget the sacrifices of my mothers, who gave the blood of their sons for my freedom?
As a Baloch how can I forget the sacrifices of my sisters, who let their brothers to Marty for my freedom?
As a Baloch how can I forget the sacrifices of my brave soldiers, who are fighting for my freedom?
As a Baloch how can I close my ears and eye and pretend that I can’t hear what my motherland is asking from me
I owe to my elders
I owe to my soldiers
I owe to my mother and sisters
I owe to my motherland
I will fight to fulfill the dreams of whom I owe
I will fight until I take back my freedom
You can’t stop me to get my freedom
You can’t fear me to get my freedom
You have pushed me in the battle field
And now I will fight until I take back my BALOCHISTAN
Until I release my BALOCHISTAN
My AZAD BALOCHISTA
Freedom

August 26, 2010 at 5:30 pm

Freedom is a compulsion to not only human beings but also to all living creatures in nature for their survival.
Freedom of Balochistan is the only guarantee to the
freedom of Panjabis, Sindhis, Urdu Mohajirs and Pashtuns.

” A Balochi Song about Freedom.”
http://www.gwank.org/Dec08/song_khan_jan20081231.html
W Garboni

August 26, 2010 at 11:59 pm

Very nice editorial. Nawab Bugti was a practical man. He didn’t believe in bluffs. He was indeed a true politician. Had he live today, the situation in Baluchistan had been different.
Shad Balush

August 27, 2010 at 12:13 pm

Really a “GREAT” personality, remembered for centuries in the Baloch history.No match ever!
Hairbiyar

August 27, 2010 at 2:16 pm

A good article an excellent read.
John Taylor

September 4, 2010 at 3:45 am

Interesting reading. And I am interested as I have worked in the region.

Can you please explain the hundreds of Toyota pickups, free fuel and tens of million of rupees in cash payments made by the Pakistani gas company to Sardar Akbar Bugti ? How has that benefited the Baloch people ? And when you say Baloch which particular ethnic group, Bugti, Marri or other do you refer to ? It was my impression that all the tribals were at each other’s throats all the time.

Honestly, to me, it looks as if the biggest injustice to that wonderful and beautiful province and the lovely people is/has been done by the tribal leaders. By keeping the tribes illiterate and dirt poor and always hiding behind the cloak of nationalism, it allows them to perpetuate their rule to the detriment of Baloch province.

Also it is always easier to blame others for your own failings.

This is my view. I do not expect you to accept them but I would like your views on this, please, thank you.