Akbar Bugti

For other uses, see Bugti (disambiguation).

Nawab Akbar Shahbaz Khan Bugti (12 July 1926 – 26 August 2006) was a prominent Pakistani politician and the leader (Tumandar) of the Bugti tribe among the Baloch people. He held several important positions, including Minister of State for Interior and Governor of Balochistan Province. Additionally, he served as Minister of State for Defence in Feroz Khan Noon's cabinet, having previously been the Minister of State for Interior.

Nawab Akbar Bugti
اکبر شہباز خان بُگٹی अकबर शहबाज़ खान बुग्टी Akabara Śahabāza Khāna Bugṭī
Bugti in 1970s
6th Chief Minister of Balochistan
In office 4 February 1989 – 6 August 1990
Governor	Muhammad Musa Khan
Chief Minister	Ghulam Khan Korejo
Preceded by	Khuda Bakhsh Marri (acting)
Succeeded by	Taj Muhammad Jamali
4th Governor of Balochistan
In office 15 February 1973 – 22 November 1974
Preceded by	Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo
Succeeded by	Ahmad Yar Ahmedzai
Minister of State for Defence
In office 19 December 1957 – 8 April 1958
President	Iskander Mirza
Prime Minister	Feroz Khan Noon
19th Tumandar of the Bugti Tribe
Preceded by	Nawab Mehrab Khan Bugti
Succeeded by	Nawab Aali Khan Bugti
Leader of Jamhoori Wattan Party
In office 1989–2006
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Talal Akbar Bugti
Personal details
Born	(1926-07-12)12 July 1926 Barkhan, Balochistan, Pakistan
Died	26 August 2006(2006-08-26) (aged 80) Kohlu, Balochistan, Pakistan
Political party	Jamhoori Watan Party
Spouse(s)	3 wives
Children	Talal Akbar Bugti Salal Bugti
Relatives	Shahbaz Khan Bugti (grandfather) Brahumdagh Bugti (grandson) Shahzain Bugti (grandson) Gohram Bugti (grandson)
Residence	Dera Bugti, Balochistan
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Tumandar of Bugti Tribe, politician

Bugti was actively involved in a movement, sometimes using armed resistance, to demand more autonomy for Balochistan. The Pakistani government accused him of maintaining a private militia and waging guerrilla warfare against the state. On 26 August 2006, Bugti was killed when his hideout, a cave in Kohlu located around 150 miles east of Quetta, collapsed.

Early life and family

Nawab Akbar Shahbaz Khan Bugti was born on 12 July 1926 in Dera Bugti, which is now part of Balochistan. He was the son of Nawab Mehrab Khan Bugti, the chief of their tribe, and the grandson of Sir Shahbaz Khan Bugti. Akbar received his early education at Karachi Grammar School and later attended Aitchison College after the death of his father. He eventually went on to study at Oxford University. Following his father’s passing, he became the tumandar (chief) of the Bugti tribe.

Nawab Akbar Bugti had three wives and a total of thirteen children, including six sons and seven daughters. His first wife bore him four sons: Nawabzada Saleem Bugti, Talal Bugti, Rehan Bugti, and Salal Bugti; however, none of them are alive today. Nawabzada Salal Bugti was killed in a shootout in Quetta in June 1996, involving a rival Bugti Kalpar sub-clan. From his second wife, he had a son named Jamil Bugti, and from his third wife, he had another son named Shahzwar Bugti. Jamil Bugti and Shahzwar Bugti are the only surviving sons of Nawab Akbar Bugti.

Akbar Bugti had five daughters with his first wife: Durr-e-Shahwar (who has passed away), Nilofer, Nazli (also deceased), Durdana, and Zareen. From his second wife, he had two daughters: Shahnaz Marri, who is married to Humayun Marri, a relative of Nawab Khair Bux Marri, and Farah Naz Bugti, who is married to Bivragh Bugti, the son of Nawabzada Ahmad Nawaz Bugti, Akbar Bugti's brother. Shahnaz and Farah are sisters to Jamil Bugti.

The grandchildren of Bugti include Nawab Mohammad Mir Aali Bugti, who is the current Nawab of the Bugti Tribe, along with Shaheed Mohammad Mir Zong Bugti, Shaheed Mohammad Mir Taleh Bugti, Mohammad Mir Zamran Bugti (Chairman of P.J.W.P), and Mohammad Mir Kohmir Bugti (Vice Chairman of P.J.W.P). These are the sons of the late Nawabzada Saleem Akbar Khan Bugti. Additionally, there is Mir Brahamdagh and his two sisters, who are the children of Rehan Bugti, and Mir Shahzain, who is the President of J.W.P, along with Mir Gohram and Mir Chakar, the sons of Talal Bugti. There are also two granddaughters (daughters of Salal Akbar Bugti).

Insurgency in Balochistan

Akbar Bugti was not as prominent in the Baloch nationalist movement compared to other leaders like Khair Bux Marri or Ataullah Mengal. He primarily focused on the interests of his own tribe, particularly his sub-tribe.

Tensions rose in 2005 when Bugti submitted a 15-point agenda to the Pakistani government. His demands included greater control over the province's resources and a halt to the establishment of military bases. He also sought nearly a 50% share of all funds allocated for development in the province. During this period, attacks on the Pakistan Army increased, including a notable incident in 2005 where a helicopter was targeted, resulting in injuries to the head of Pakistan's Frontier Corps and his deputy.

In March 2006, a bus filled with wedding guests struck an anti-tank mine in Dera Bugti, leading to the deaths of 28 people, most of whom were women and children, and injuring 7 others. Many of the victims were from the Masoori Bugti tribe, which had opposed Akbar Bugti's leadership. Akbar Bugti took responsibility for the bus attack, while Abdul Samad Lasi, a district chief, reported that militants under Bugti's command had planted hundreds of mines on dirt roads throughout Dera Bugti. The purpose of these mines was to target local security forces. He further stated that Pakistani security troops had managed to disarm many of the landmines placed in the region.

15-point agenda

The demands were aimed at ensuring provincial autonomy, safeguarding Balochistan's natural resources, and addressing political and administrative issues. Below are the key points of the agenda:

1. Provincial Autonomy: Greater autonomy for Balochistan, allowing the province to manage its affairs more independently.

2.Control Over Natural Resources: Baloch people should have control over their natural resources and wealth.

3.Administrative and Financial Powers: The Balochistan government should have authority over administrative, financial, and planning matters related to mega projects like Gwadar.

4.Revenue Control: The provincial government should control the revenue generated from mega projects.

5.Local Employment: Employment opportunities in these projects should be reserved for the local population.

6.Abandon Planned Cantonments: The construction of new military bases should be halted, and land forcibly acquired should be returned to its owners.

7.Rectify Revenue Records: Correcting and updating land revenue records.

8.Senate Representation: The Senate should represent the four federating units, and amendments made during Ziaul Haq's period should be revoked.

9.Disband Levies Force: Disbanding the levies force recruited by the ISI and MI in the Marri area.

10.Withdraw Armed Forces: Withdrawing all armed forces from interior Balochistan.

11.Provincial Control Over Civil Armed Forces: The provincial government should control all civil armed forces.

12.Provincial Assembly Authority: The provincial assembly should have the power to frame laws for Balochistan.

13.Federal Law Override: Federal laws should not override provincial laws.

14.Resettle Gas Company Issues: Resolving issues related to gas companies.

15.Release Political Prisoners: Releasing all prisoners held for political reasons

Read also

• Pashtunwali