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Government, primitives agree to cooperate
The tribal tension in Dera Bugti and adjoining tribal areas was defused when Governor Balochistan Lt. General (Retired) Abdul Qadir Baloch and Chief Secretary Balochistan held successful parleys with the elders of Bugti tribe headed by Nawab Akbar Bugti.
| "Yar! We be Bugtis! Who be ye, stranger?" |
After the talks, the Bugtis called off their prolonged strike and assured the government that they would fully cooperate to normalize the situation in the area provided the government takes practical steps towards implementation of the previous agreements signed between the elders and representatives of the Bugti tribe and the oil and gas exploration companies.
| "We wants our rake-off, see?" |
The governor assured that grievances of the people of Dera Bugti would be redressed on top priority. He also assured that oil and gas exploring companies, particularly the PPL, SNGPL and SSGPL would be asked to provide jobs to children of deceased or retired employees, said Taj Muhammad Mondrani Bugti, a labour leader.
"We be Bugtis! We can't be 'spected to git our hands dirty, 'cept when beatin' our wimmin!"
"We'll just send 'em the checks..."
"Checks? We don't take no checks! Bags o' gold 'r nothin'!" |
The governor also met chief of the Bugti Tribe Nawab Muhammad Akbar Bugti and assured him that government would force the OGDC, SNGPL, SSGPL, PPL and other companies involved in oil and gas exploration to take measures for the uplift of the living standard of the residents of the areas neighbouring the gas/oil fields, provision of gas, electricity, educational and health facilities at their doorstep and provision of jobs to educated people of the area.
"Yessir! That's right, all you Bugtis! Lookee here! We got a warshin' machine for every porch! And cars for your front yards â we'll even deliver the blocks to set 'em on! All y'gotta do is stop torchin' the gas pipeline!"
"But we c'n still pot them Mazari varmints, cain't we?" |
Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-05-07 |
