Sarfaraz Bugti heckled by Baloch activist in Brussels

Baluchistan's Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti was heckled by Baloch activist Munir Mengal in an event in Brussels where the delegation highlighted the economic potential of the southwestern Balochistan province.

A nine-member delegation of Government of Balochistan, led by Bugti, was on a visit to Brussels to brief Belgian businessmen on the economic opportunities in Balochistan in the wake of Gwadar Port and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

While heckling the minister, Munir asked, "Why Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri calls himself Nawab, why not 'Khan of Kalat'?"

Zehri participated in a loya Jirga in September 2006 called by the Khan of Kalat, Mir Suleman Dawood Jan, following the death of Akbar Bugti during a military operation ordered by former General Pervez Musharraf.

Accusing Pakistan Government of distorting the historical facts of Balochistan, Munir presented the document dated August 4, 1947 which proves Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah acknowledged Balochistan as an independent state.

As the Minister refused to answer Munir, the official spokesman of the Government of Balochistan Anwaar Ul Haq Kakar said, "You are distorting facts. The document you have brought is from the book titled 'Inside Pakistan', I am not a lecturer of history to give history lessons."

The verbal spat intensified between Munir and the spokesperson as Kakar accused "all human rights activists, exiled Balochs, including the Baloch leaders, to be paid RAW agents."

Munir said, "How can you accuse of being a RAW agent."

The event took place on May 3 at the European Institute for Asian Studies where some journalists asked the Minister why there is no access for free journalists and human rights organizations to Balochistan.

Earlier, Balochistan's Chief Minister was to attend the event but he later back traced.

The delegation included Minister for irrigation and energy Nawabzada Changez Khan Marri, Minister for Home and Tribal Affairs Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti, Minister for health Rehmat Saleh Baloch; members of Balochistan assembly Nasrullah Khan,Ahmed Ali, Tahir Mahmood and Muhammad Raza and tribal notable Umair Ahmed Hussaini.

Bugti said that his government grants free access to Balochistan for "independent organizations and governments and institutes to investigate the facts."

The Economic Minister of Embassy Omar Hameed gave a presentation on the economic and investment paradigm of Pakistan with particular reference to Balochistan. The meeting was attended by a large number of Belgian businesspersons from different sectors including agriculture, energy and shipping.