Handling Balochistan
No death in the world is a cause for celebration. Given the present geo-political and domestic circumstances, Nawab Akbar Bugti’s reported demise is a moment of extreme concern for the nation. Riding a camel he left Dera Bugti holding aloft a rifle as symbolic of his revolt, it was pure showmanship and he well knew how to exploit the media. He exchanged the camel for a “4 by 4” jeep a mile or so down the metalled road. Akbar Bugti’s followers were certainly targetted, he was scrupulously left alone to avoid his being killed, this has now come to pass more by accident than by any design. The location of the caves he was residing in was well known to the authorities, Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan could have got him anytime during the past year or so. In the emotive circumstances availing, announcement of such deaths at the hands of security forces have to be carefully crafted. Indeed what was the need to do so without recovering his body? Mohammad Ali Durrani can grandstand for his two bosses, what he says as Federal Minister for Information cannot be delivered like a speech in Nishtar Park. The national forum is not a “Pasban” pulpit, Durrani’s display of his “more loyal than the king” posture can adversely affect the destiny of the nation.
