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Bugti, govt agree to open road, restore communications

By Zulfiqar Ghuman

ISLAMABAD: Nawab Akbar Bugti and the government have agreed to open traffic between Dera Bugti and Sui and restore communications in both areas, a statement by Pakistan Muslim League (PML) Secretary General Mushahid Hussain stated on Saturday.

The decision was made after extensive deliberations between PML President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Mushahid Hussain, Sher Ali Mazari and Nawab Akbar Bugti, the statement added.

Traffic has been suspended between Dera Bugti and Sui since March 17 when security forces and Bugti tribesmen clashed, resulting in the deaths of many people. In the preceding standoff, Bugti tribesmen took positions and set up roadblocks between Dera Bugti and Sui.

The four men also agreed on security forces and Bugti tribesmen vacating positions they had taken up except for those that were required for security, the statement said. Decisions on matters regarding the long-term protection of national assets in the Bugti area and steps to normalise the situation in Dera Bugti were also agreed upon in principle, it added. The modalities towards implementing these decisions were currently being worked out, it said.

As for matters concerning to provincial autonomy and other issues in Balochistan, the parliamentary committee set up for the purpose would hold dialogue with political forces of the province to resolve the issues as soon as possible, the statement said.

Akbar Bugti told Online by telephone on Saturday that Sher Ali Mazari was neither a part of the three-member committee nor was he authorised by the Bugti tribe in any capacity. He said Mushahid Hussain’s statement in this connection was not his own and was of he government.

He had said earlier that Sher Ali Mazari was not his (Bugti’s) nominee for the three-member committee, Akbar Bugti added.

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