Army's new theory on Bugti killing
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/beginning-of-musharrafs-troubles/20118-2.html
The Pakistan Army on Tuesday said it did not kill the popular Baluch leader, Nawab Akbar Bugti after anger and widespread protests across Baluchistan against the government and the army for killing him. Pakistan's defence spokesman Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan said Bugti was killed when a cave where he was hiding caved in.
"Bugti's death had been an outcome of the recent events which started on August 23 and ended on August 26," Maj Gen Sultan said.
Narrating the events leading to the tragic killing of Bugti, the Army spokesman said: "There was a firing on two helicopters from the area on August 23. There was one helicopter that was hit but it was able to land safely. Another helicopter was then sent to confirm what was there. That helicopter was also fired upon. This prompted the Forntier Corps to send troops on the ground and find out what was the reality."
"When the troops went to the grounds, they found about seven to eight caves, which were very strongly occupied. The insurgents put up a resistance when the troops moved in. The Frontier Corps suffered three casualties and then they were reinforced. On August 26, they started clearing the caves and finally when they reached this cave from where the fire was coming out, the fire was responded to," Maj Gen Sultan said.
He, however, denied that Bugti was killed in the Army firing.
"There were guides, who were from Bugti tribe. There were a few of them who were with the security forces. One was sent into the cave to find out who were the people inside. He was able to negotiate. When he came out and confirmed to the commander, the commander himself went in to carry out further negotiations. That was the time when the cave actually came down with a blast."
He said there was no clue as to what caused the blast. "It could have been a mine blast, it could have been the explosives that was there. The structure had in any case become weak because of the rocket firing over the past three days," he added.
Just love Pakistan: Mush
Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf visited the hill resort of Murree on Tuesday.
Addressing a gathering, he tried to soothe the Baloch sentiment outraged over the killing of Bugti. He promised financial help to the province. "Just love Pakistan," he urged the Balochis.
But that sentiment wasn't visible in Quetta. After a prayer service for Bugti, violence broke out.
His family demanded the patriarch's body to perform the final rites, but the government claimed that it was still in the cave where he was killed. The authorities promised to retrieve it. Bugti's son Talal, however, accused the government of lying.
"They have offered to provide us a helicopter to fly me to the mountains where Bugti
sahib's body lies. This is an absolute lie. I doubt their intention. I think they are lying. Had I agreed to go in the helicopter, they would have transported the body in the meanwhile in another helicopter to Dehra Bugti, just like they did with Bhutto," Talal Bugti, son of Akbar Bugti, said:
Mush's days are numbered?
Balochis are convinced that the government wants to avoid a public funeral that could inflame sentiment even further. In fact, Pakistan's most famous ISI chief, Gen Hameed Gul, believes that Musharraf's troubles could be just beginning.
"On many counts, he (Musharraf) was isolated previously also. But with this event, I think now his troubles are going to increase. This is an increment to the problems that he was facing politically," says Gen Hameed Gul.
The killing could have its strongest impact on Baloch youth. Many may even join the insurgency adding fresh fuel to the Baloch fire.