Strike cripples Pakistani city, but no violence

Quetta (Pakistan), Aug 28: A strike called to protest against the killing of a nationalist rebel leader crippled the Pakistani city of Quetta today, with transport off the streets and shops closed, police and residents said.

Political parties in the gas-rich southwestern province of Baluchistan called the strike to protest against the killing on Saturday of veteran leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, 79.

Bugti died in a government attack on his cave-complex hideout in remote corner of the province of jagged mountains and deserts.

''Most shops are closed but things are peaceful. No incidents of violence have been reported today,'' said deputy provincial police chief Salman Saeed.

At least three people were killed yesterday as violent protests spread from Quetta, the provincial capital, to other parts of the province, where nationalists have for decades been agitating for a greater share of the profits from its resources.

Autonomy-seeking Baluch rebels have waged a low-key insurgency for decades but over the past year they stepped up attacks on infrastructure, including gas pipelines, and security posts.

Government officials said security forces had not targeted Bugti who was killed when explosives went off during heavy fighting in a cave, which then collapsed on all inside.

His body has yet to be recovered.

But politicians and analysts said Bugti's death was likely to inflame opposition to the government in Pakistan's biggest but poorest province.

President Pervez Musharraf, who has vowed to stamp out armed opposition in Baluchistan, told a meeting of government and security officials yesterday every step would be taken to ensure government authority in Baluchistan, the Dawn newspaper reported.

But he said the door was always open for talks.

''We neither closed these channels in the past nor will we do so in the future,'' Musharraf was quoted as saying.

''However, we cannot let anyone attack security forces and if someone will do this we will take punitive action against them,'' he said.

Reuters

Related Stories