Baloch rebel chief Brahmdagh Bugti seeks political asylum in Switzerland

Quetta, Feb 2(ANI): Brahmdagh Bugti, chief of an outlawed Baloch rebel group, is seeking political asylum in Switzerland, the party's spokesperson has said.

"Brahmdagh Bugti, who leads the banned Baloch Republican Party (BRP), has reached Switzerland and is safe," The Express Tribune quoted BRP spokesperson Mir Sher Muhammad Bugti, as revealing on the phone from an undisclosed location.

Brahmdagh had gone into hiding following the death of Baloch chieftains Nawab Akbar Bugti and Balach Marri, and avoided contacting people for security reasons.

"Brahmdagh Bugti has submitted an application to the Swiss authorities seeking political asylum," said the spokesperson, adding, "He will continue to take up the issue of human rights violations in Balochistan at the UN and other international forums."

It is noteworthy that the government has made repeated claims about Brahmdagh's presence in Kabul, from where he had reportedly been leading the Baloch insurgents.

He is also the founder of the outlawed Baloch Republican Army, which is engaged in attacks on government installations and security forces in volatile parts of Balochistan.

Pakistan authorities had taken up Brahmdagh's matter with Afghan President Hamid Karzai when he visited Islamabad last time, and the Afghan leader had promised to look into the matter.

However, Brahmdagh has been denying reports that he was hiding in Afghanistan, and instead claimed that he was "leading a struggle for the rights of the Baloch people" from somewhere in Balochistan. (ANI)