Nawab Akbar Bugti, a true hero
Author: Shaad Baloch
Nawab Khiar Baksh Marri, Akbar Khan Bugti and Attaullah Mengal are considered to be most influential tribal heads of their time. Not a single government or bureaucratic system was ever formed without their direct or indirect influence.
They were also accused of closing the doors of education to the inhabitants of their respective areas. In reply to one such accusation, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti once said in an interview, which is still accessible on YouTube, “They repeatedly allege that we do not allow to construct educational infrastructure in our area. Let’s for a minute accept their allegation. The the question arises why there is no adequate educational system present in Makuran, where no tribal system exists?”
Nawab Akbar Bugti was completely correct, the literacy rate in Makuran only increased when private educationists started opening English language centres, which in turn increased the interest of locals in general learning processes and to obtain education.
Over the years, dictators and Pakistani state alike have tried to propagate against tribal chiefs in order to kindle a hatred and dislike against the system. Even today if somebody visits Punjab, he is told that the backwardness of Balochistan is all due to tribal chiefs. Similar propaganda campaigns were run against Akbar Khan Bugti, specially during the tenure of dictator General Musharaf, who accused Akbar Khan Bugti of being an anti-education tribal chief.
This was a planned campaign to hide exploitation by federal government. I still vivdly remember the rape incident of Dr Shazia by an Army captain, against which Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti protested and declared it a violation of Baloch customs. But still many blamed Nawab Akbar Bugti as someone who was using the issue for its own vested interests.
Historically, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti’s politics was within the framework of Pakistan. However, when he demanded greater control of Baloch nation over natural resources, the state became paranoid of this shift in the paradigm and he was threatened by Parvez Musharaf. General Musharaf had said he will hit them (referring to Baloch leaders) in a way that they will never know what hit them. To which, Nawab Bugti had famously replied in an interview that “In one sense, it is a quick death that he is promising us. He could do this to me, and to a few other Baloch leaders, but not to the entire Baloch nation.”
General Musharaf’s egoistic behaviour and Akbar Khan Bugti’s bravery resulted in a massive shift in Baloch resistance movement and the movement became widely famous, with thousands of Baloch youth joining it.
Nawab Akbar Bugti was familiar with state tactics as he was a mature and well experienced politician of Balochistan so he preferred mountains as his residence rather than going for table talks.
He was killed in a military operation on 26 August 2006.
Nawab Bugti with his steadfastness and bravery proved to the entire nation that irrespective of the intimidation, a true Baloch will stand firm and fight until his last breath.
Nawab Akbar Bugti lived a life of luxury in Dera Bugti, but he sacrificed his everything for the honour and identity of Baloch nation.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Balochistan Post or any of its editors.