Bugti's son booked for treason for anti-army remarks

Islamabad, Nov 23 (UNI) The Pakistan police have registered a case of treason against Nawabzada Jamil Bugti, son of the slain Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti, allegedly for speaking against the army and the government in a press conference last month.

Mr Bugti was killed during a military operation in the Kohlu district of Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province last August. The government claimed that the operation was not targetted against him and he was killed along with several others when roof of the cave he was hiding in collapsed minutes after a team of army officials went in for talks with him.

However, leading opposition parties and Bugti's family members said that the operation was aimed at eliminating him.

Dawn newspaper quoted secretary information of the slain leader's Jamhoori Watan Party Amanullah Kanrani as expressing concern over registration of the treason case against Jamil Bugti.

''The registration of the case is another act of victimisation of the Bugti family,'' Mr Kanrani said in a statement, adding that the move and operations would not force the Baloch people to give up struggle to protect the coast and resources of Balochistan.

He demanded withdrawal of all fake cases against political leaders and workers and said that instead of using force against the people of Balochistan and hurling threats at them, the government should recognise their legitimate rights over the resources of Balochistan.

UNI XC MQA KN1745