Baloch leader Brahumdagh Bugti to seek asylum in India

Unable to move out of Switzerland to campaign for a "free Balochistan", Baloch nationalist leader and Baloch Republican Party (BRP) founder Brahumdagh Bugti will seek official asylum in India within a week, a party spokesperson told IANS.

The decision was taken after a two-day meeting of the BRP central committee at Geneva, following which the BRP founder held a press conference expressing his desire to move to India.

"Asylum will be sought within a week at the Indian embassy in Bern, Switzerland. For now only Mr Bugti would apply," BRP spokesperson Sher Mohammad Bugti told IANS.

Asked for the reason behind applying for asylum in India, he cited "political restrictions" placed by the Swiss government, especially the restriction to move out of Switzerland.

"He is not allowed to travel outside Switzerland, the government here is not giving all essential documents for that. With Indian asylum, he can travel throughout the world, meet people and campaign for a free Balochistan," the BRP spokesperson said.

The BRP also held an anti-Pakistan protest in Geneva.

Grandson of Baloch leader and Bugti tribe head, Nawab Akbar Bugti, Brahumdagh left Balochistan to save his life after Akbar Bugti was killed in a Pakistan Army offensive in 2006. He was first given asylum in Afghanistan from where he shifted to Switzerland in 2010 following a life threat.

--IANS

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