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India-Pakistan
A rebel's killing roils Pakistan
2006-08-29
For years, Nawab Mohammed Akbar Khan Bugti battled the Pakistan Army. The 80-year-old renegade hidden in the mountains of Balochistan became a legend in his fight for greater autonomy against what he saw as colonial brutality.
And now he's a martyr.
Bugti was both hated and revered. But as a former federal minister and governor, he symbolized a political as well as a violent struggle. And his death this weekend, during a fierce three-day battle that left more than 30 dead, could prove a serious blow to Pakistan's stability.

It could also close a door to a group seen as a counterweight to extremism represented in the region by a resurgent Taliban, analysts say. "This is not a good sign," says Samina Ahmed, South Asia director of the International Crisis Group. "Just a few years ago [Nawab Bugti] was talking to the government. Keeping that door open was the way to go. Now that door has been slammed shut."
Posted by:john

#8  Karachi on the Eve of Partition

"The population of Karachi at that time was 450,000 of which 61.2 per cent was Sindhi speaking, 6.3 per cent was Urdu-Hindi speaking, 51 per cent was Hindu and 42 per cent was Muslim. By 1951 all this had changed and KarachiÂ’s population had increased to 1.137 million because of the influx of 600,000 refugees from India. In 1951 the Sindhi speaking population was 8.6 per cent, the Urdu speaking population was 50 per cent, the Muslim population was 96 per cent and the Hindu population was 2 per cent1. These changes have had a major effect on the culture, politics and development of Karachi and its relationship to the politics of Sindh and Pakistan. For an understanding of the present situation in the city and the province, an understanding of the repercussions of these demographic changes is essential."

"a large number of present-day Sindhi landlords are of Baloch origin. According to the 1941 census, which was the last one held before independence, Balochis formed 23% of the total Muslim population of Sindh."
Posted by: john   2006-08-29 23:29  

#7  From the Daily Times..

Nawab Bugti on jihad

“What use have I got for a God that needs me to fight His battles?”

Posted by: john   2006-08-29 23:05  

#6  My bad.
You're right about the Mohajir demographics. That's what I get for reading too many Pak newspapers - some rather dubious 'statistics'.

Posted by: john   2006-08-29 23:04  

#5  Comment no 2.
Karachi is not 60% Sindhi speaking balochi. The majority are mohajirs originally from India. Hence the fact the MQM (Mohajir or Muttahida Qaumi Movement)runs the city and has the provincial governor of Sindh of which Karachi is the capital. What are Sindhi-speaking balochi anyway. The Sindhi people (a minority in their capital Karachi) speak sindhi and the Baloch speak Balochi.
Posted by: Sleresing Hupolunter2709   2006-08-29 22:15  

#4  John, as usual, thanks for your singular expertise. Most of us (meaning, me) are uninformed or misinformed on much of the politics and history (BTW, I do double-check you on stuff that's news to me...no discrepancies found). Please keep up the informative posts
Frank
Posted by: Frank G   2006-08-29 18:52  

#3  Very illuminating John, thanks a lot for that.
Posted by: Tony (UK)   2006-08-29 18:33  

#2  All his big turbaned bodyguards were of no avail,

Actually his bodyguards held off a much larger force, one backed with overwhelming airpower, for three days killing 26 commandos, including six officers.

Bugti was not some islamist moron 'militant' hoping for 72 virgins. He was no Taliban.

He was an Oxford educated, former Pakistan Federal Minister, former Chief Minister of Balochistan, Former Governor of the state.
As Nawab, he was the heriditary leader of a clan comprising hundreds of thousands of people.
He had close contacts with politicians throughout what was undivided India.
He was one of the politicians that created Pakistan. Perv has a serious problem on his hands. He was in diapers (and still an Indian citizen living in Delhi) when Nawab Bugti was running part of Pakistan.

Here a young Bugti greets Mohhamed Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan.

Link to photo

Bear in mind that Karachi is 60% populated by Sindhi speaking Balochi ethnic people.
Posted by: john   2006-08-29 07:26  

#1  All his big turbaned bodyguards were of no avail, eh? Perhaps he gets these 70 year old virgins for he's 80.
Posted by: Duh!   2006-08-29 02:29  

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