Surrender of arms only if rights guaranteed to Balochs, says Bugti's son

Quetta, Apr 3 : Slain Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti's son Nawabzada Talal Akbar Bugti, the chief of his own faction of the Jamhoori Watan Party, has said that the Baloch people will lay down their arms only after they achieve their rights and Balochistan gains complete autonomy.

The Baloch people had been forced to take up arms following continuous denial of rights, he said.

Regretting that Prime Minister Gillani had made his offer for negotiations conditional to the laying down of arms, he said that the rulers had time and again 'apologised', but no one ever agreed to give the Baloch people their rights.

Urging the prime minister to take bold and direct action, he said that instead of offering apologies, he should bring the killers of Nawab Akbar Bugti, Balach Marri, Benazir Bhutto and thousands of Baloch people to justice, and that if he failed to do so he would not be forgiven by the nation and history.

He said that instead of asking the Baloch people to lay down their arms, the prime minister should stop the military operation in Balochistan and recall security forces. He said that tribesmen weapons were ornaments for tribal people and there could be no question of their surrendering them.

Stressing the need for practical steps, he said that issues of Balochistan could not be settled by lip service alone.

ANI