Baloch Society Of North America (BSO_NA) Baloch Society Of North America (BSO_NA) is Non-Profit Organization, working to unite and Organize
all Baloch in North America, to expose the Occupation of our land (Balochistan) and exploitations of
our resources by Pakistani and Iranian Governments, and to bring their Human Rights Violations in
Balochistan into the world’s Notice.
Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti: A Great Baloch Hero in Life and In Death.
Tributes by Nek Buzdar, Professor of Economics, California State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, California, USA
Great Baloch leader Akbar Khan Bugti was killed in Marri-Bugti Hills of the Koh-i-Sulaiman ranges of Northeastern
Balochistgan on August 26, 2006. We do not yet know what weapon was used to kill Nawab Akbar KhanBugti, but
we do know for certain that he died fighting like a man among men and like a true Baloch as he was. The Baloch
have lost a great son and an unyielding warrior for Baloch democratic and economic rights.
As a young high school graduate, I first met Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti in the summer of 1962 at Imdad hotel, in
Quetta where he was visiting with Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo and Mir Gul Khan Naseer. I vividly remember how
greatly I was impressed by Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti’s deep convictions and ideals, by his concern for Baloch
suffering, and by his love for and knowledge of Baloch culture, traditions, as well as Baloch poetry and ballads. The
Nawab would, with great pride, relate how valiantly his tribe under the leadership of Bibarg, as also the brotherly
tribes of Domki, Jakhrani, and Brahavi resisted the British invasion of Balochistan in 1839. That year and during
the ensuing forty years thousands of Baloch including Mir Mehrab Khan, the Khan of Baloch, laid down their lives in
defense of their fatherland and forced the British empire to eventually make peace with the Baloch people. Over
the years since 1962, I had the honor and the great privilege of meeting with the great Baloch leader on numerous
occasions, and always left fully convinced that we, the Baloch people, were tremendously blessed to have such a
great leader as Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.
Baloch traditionally expect their Sardars to be the standard bearers of Balochi customs, traditions, and ways of life,
but in recent times very few Baloch Sardars met these expectations of their fellow tribesmen. Nawab Akbar Khan
Bugti, through his great courage, his love for a simple life, his hospitality, his truthfulness and his preparedness to
do everything in his power to protect Baloch honor and dignity, stood out as a true Baloch Sardar. Throughout his
life he jealously upheld the great Baloch ideals and relentlessly fought against those who attempted to violate
them. The latest conflict with the government started in 2005, when a non-Baloch lady doctor living in his Baloch
area and thus under his tribal protection was insulted by a Pakistan army officer and the government failed to hand
the culprit (Siahkar) over to the Nawab for punishment.
Nawab Akbar Bugti was a simple, straight forward, honest, and an ideal Baloch whom no one on earth could bend
to his will and who steadfastly refused to compromise on principles. In the first democratic elections in
Balochistan in 1970, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti played a crucial and indispensable role in winning the first ever
success for the Baloch nationalist parties. This was also a crucial turning point in the Baloch struggle for their
democratic and human rights. Later, although he developed differences with his Baloch comrades for a while, he
never betrayed the Baloch cause. Once he realized that the enemies of the Baloch were trying to use him against
other Baloch peoples, he scornfully rejected any part in their games, separated himself and continued serving the
Baloch people in his own way. The tragic events of recent years including the murder of his son and grand sons
could not distract this great Baloch from his eternal fight for the rights of the Baloch people. The Nawab lamented
disunity among the Baloch political leaders and seemed convinced that achievement of Baloch political and
economic rights could not be realized without a united struggle. Until the day of his martyrdom, he was making
efforts to bring all Baloch parties and leaders together for the common Baloch cause.
In Nawab Akbar Bugti’s martyrdom, the Baloch people have lost a great leader but a great nation will move forward
in his footsteps to achieve the objectives so dear and so close to the heart of one of the greatest Baloch leaders of
our times..
