ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani said on Sunday that Akbar Bugti, killed in the Kohlu incident, changed his political path to open confrontation against national interests and the opposition should desist from playing politics over his body for its vested interests.
“During the last six months, Bugti changed his trend of politics to open confrontation ... the government tried its best to resolve the issues through dialogue,” Durrani told journalists here.
Durrani also released a “fact sheet” containing atrocities against humanity in Balochistan committed by three prominent chieftains “having an outlook of terrorists”. The fact sheet is so comprehensive and contains details of crimes allegedly committed by Akbar Bugti, Khair Bakhsh Marri and Attaullah Mengal that “it is unchallengeable”. These include human rights violations, murder of 60 persons since 1992, sabotage activities, landmine incidents, terrorist activities against law enforcement agencies, anti-development activities, activities of the defunct Balochistan Liberation Organisation, and what not.
Durrani said there were no anti-Pakistan political moves in Balochistan or elsewhere but influx of arms via Afghanistan through establishment of Indian consulates etc was creating problems and helping terrorists to disturb law and order.
Addressing the opposition, he said they should see the ground realities as no politics or negative trends against Pakistan would be acceptable. “We welcome any criticism with open mind, but no one will be allowed to harm Pakistan and its interests,” he added.
The minister said Akbar Bugti left the Centre, during Nawaz Sharif’s time, and was taken to task during Benazir Bhutto’s government. He said even the MMA leader Liaquat Baloch complained during an election that a Jamaat candidate in Dera Bugti was killed by Bugti. Majority of those now supporting Bugti were against him or were subjected to humiliation or stopped from political activities by Bugti in the past.
He alleged that Bugti even ousted his own tribesmen from their lands and forced them to take shelter in other provinces. Now these people have returned to their places and there is no sympathizer for Bugti in the district. “No point scoring,” said Durrani, while referring to activities of the opposition leaders, adding, “They are trying to exploit the Kohlu incident, which is unfortunate and against the national interests”.
The people of Pakistan, he said, never accepted any politics based on anti-state notions. “Flow of narcotics, armaments and money to Pakistan from Afghanistan is a hard fact known to all.” The government, he said, knows against whom it is being used. Bridges, pylons, railway tracks and gas pipelines were blown up and innocent people killed, he said and added that the writ of the government was challenged.
In Balochistan, he said, some elements were using weapons to stop even the process of development. They have no backing of the people of the province as they never won significant seats in elections, he added.
He, however, maintained that the development process of building dams, roads, ports, canals and other mega projects to bring about socio-economic development for the people of this province would continue unabated.
“The government also wants to give a sense of respect and participation to Baloch youth,” he added. He raised important questions as to who took action in Balochistan in the 1970s, adding the kind of actions taken by Benazir and Nawaz governments in their tenures are known to everybody. “Akbar Bugti stopped coming to Islamabad in Nawaz Sharif’s government,” he said.
He said facts are being shared with the public but national security cannot be compromised. The opposition is trying to play politics by setting negative trends. The opposition moved a no-confidence motion against the government, which was responded effectively, he added. But blowing the petty issues out of proportion cannot be justified, he said.
Durrani said the opposition should have played its role in bringing back Akbar Bugti to the mainstream politics, but it did not do so. The minister said it is not only the responsibility of the government but also of every Pakistani to build this country and ensure its national cohesion. All those elements and political parties, which are involved in negative politics, will ultimately have to come back as they cannot face the people, he added.
He said the armed forces of Pakistan have ensured security of Pakistan and they had offered sacrifices in every hour of need. The nation has witnessed them working in the earthquake-hit areas where they worked relentlessly. He said their sacrifices couldn’t be ignored which they offered for the security of the country. It is our duty to remember them, he added.
Responding to a question, he said the people of Pakistan and all the four provinces are integrated with each other culturally, socially, economically and linguistically and their interests are linked with each other. Any attempt to sow the seeds of discord among them cannot succeed, Durrani said.
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