Akbar Bugti

Nawab Akbar Shahbaz Khan Bugti (Balochi, Urdu: ; 12 July 1926 – 26 August 2006) was a Pakistani politician and the Tumandar (head) of the Bugti tribe of Baloch people who served as the Minister of State for Interior and Governor of Balochistan Province in Pakistan.

He also became minister of state for defence in the cabinet of Feroz Khan Noon.

Earlier, he had also served as the Minister of State for Interior.

He was involved in a struggle, at times armed, for greater autonomy for Balochistan.

The government of Pakistan accused him of keeping a private militia and leading a guerrilla war against the state.

Nawab Akbar Shahbaz Khan Bugti was born on 12 July 1926 in Dera Bugti (in present-day Balochistan).

He was the son of the chief of his tribe, Nawab Mehrab Khan Bugti, and grandson of Sir Shahbaz Khan Bugti.

He received his early education from Karachi Grammar School and later from Aitchison College after his father's death, later on he attended Oxford University.

Being the son of the tribe's chief, he became the tumandar (chief) of his tribe after his father.

Nawab Akbar Bugti had three wives and thirteen children (6 sons and 7 daughters) altogether.

From his first wife: Nawabzada Saleem Bugti, Talal Bugti, Rehan Bugti and Salal Bugti.

None of them are alive today.

Nawabzada Salal Bugti was murdered in a shootout in Quetta by the rival Bugti Kalpar sub clan in June 1996.

From Nawab Akbar Bugti's second wife: Jamil Bugti.

And from Nawab Akbar Bugti's third wife: Shahzwar Bugti.

Jamil Bugti and Shahzwar Bugti are the surviving sons of Nawab Akbar Bugti.

Akbar Bugti had five daughters from his first wife: Durr-e-Shahwar (deceased), Nilofer, Nazli (deceased), Durdana and Zareen.

And two from his second wife: Shahnaz Marri (wife of Nawab Khair Bux Marri's relative, Humayun Marri) and Farah Naz Bugti (wife of Bivragh Bugti, the son of Nawabzada Ahmad Nawaz Bugti who was the brother of Nawab Akbar Bugti), who are the sisters of Jamil Bugti.

The Bugti grandchildren consist of Nawab Mohammad Mir Aali Bugti (the current Nawab of Bugti Tribe), 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 (sons of Late Nawabzada Saleem Akbar Khan Bugti), Mir Brahamdagh and his two sisters (son and daughters of Rehan Bugti), Mir Shahzain President of J.W.P, Mir Gohram and Mir Chakar (sons of Talal Bugti).

And two grand daughters (daughters of Salal Akbar Bugti).

Akbar Bugti was never in the forefront of Baloch nationalism, when compared to other Baloch leaders like Khair Bux Marri or Ataullah Mengal.

He remained primarily a Bugti, fighting for his own tribe, and in particular his sub tribe.

In 2005, Bugti presented a 15-point agenda to the Pakistan government.

Their stated demands included greater control of the province's resources and a moratorium on the construction of military bases.

It also included a near 50% share of all the money used in the development of the province.

In the meantime, attacks against the Pakistan Army also increased in the area, including a 2005 attack on a helicopter, in which the head of Pakistan's Frontier Corps and his deputy were injured.

On 26 August 2006 Bugti was killed when his hide-out cave, located in Kohlu, about 150 miles east of Quetta, collapsed.

In March 2006, a crowded bus carrying a wedding party hit an anti-tank mine in Dera Bugti.

The blast resulted in the death of 28 people, mostly women and children, and injured 7 others.

Most of the victims belonged to Masoori Bugti tribe which had revolted against Akbar Bugti's rule.

Akbar Bugti claimed responsibility for the attack on the bus.

Abdul Samad Lasi, a district chief, said that militants under the command of Akbar Bugti had planted hundreds of mines on dirt roads in various parts of Dera Bugti.

The aim of planting such mines was to target the security forces in the area.

Furthermore, he added that the Pakistani security forces had neutralized many of these landmines planted in the area.

On 26 August 2006, Akbar Bugti was killed after the collapse of the cave in which he was hiding.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General, during a press conference, gave details regarding the death of Akbar Bugti.

The Director General said that the soldiers were rushed to the nine-foot-wide mouth of the L-shape cave after one of the two guides hired to help locate Nawab Akbar Bugti in the Kohlu area had signaled that 'he was inside' the cave.

The guides belonged to Bugti tribe.

The Director General stated that the soldiers had gone into the cave "to negotiate with Akbar Bugti".

The soldiers were ordered to apprehend Akbar Bugti, and not harm or kill him.