June 19, 2002	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 7, 1423

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QUETTA, June 18: The federal government or the gas companies had not established any contact with Nawab Akbar Bugti to ease the situation in Dera Bugti, sources said.

“All such reports in this regard are part of a disinformation campaign launched to mislead the people about the Dera Bugti situation,” sources close to Nawab Bugti told Dawn on Tuesday.

They said the government last established contacts with the JWP chief in May and since then there was no change in the situation in the area.

The sources confirmed the arrival of Mir Sher Ali Mazari to Dera Bugti on Tuesday, who also discussed the situation with the JWP chief. However, the talks failed to achieve any breakthrough to resolve the matter.

The sources said the government had not withdrawn or reduced the number of FC troops in Dera Bugti. Even more troops had been deployed in the area, they claimed.

Meanwhile, situation in the Dera Bugti township remained tense as hundreds of FC personnel maintained their siege of the area.

The FC personnel have started patrolling the area where both FC men and armed tribesmen have taken positions on mountains.

“At least half a dozen APCs have been brought to Dera Bugti. Two of them have been deployed in front of Nawab Bugti’s fort, which is also cordoned off by the armed forces,” sources in Dera Bugti told this correspondent by telephone.

They said FC personnel had established pickets at the rooftops of some buildings and new checkpoints had been set up on all the entry points where security men search every person entering the township.

Patrolling by helicopters over gas fields and Dera Bugti was also reported.

The sources said despite patrolling by helicopters and deployment of troops unknown men opened fire on a gas pipeline in Pir Koh and Loti gas fields, causing damage to the pipeline. No arrest was reported in this connection.

Reports pouring in the provincial capital said that telephone connection of Nawab Bugti’s residence had been cut off while people were facing problems due to the disruption in supply of electricity to the area, which also affected water supply.

A spokesmen for the Jamhoori Watan party also denied reports that any contact was established between the government and Nawab Akbar Bugti and said that by spreading such reports the government wanted to pave the way for launching operation in the area.

In statement issued on Tuesday night, the spokesman said that Bugti tribesmen and people of other tribes were reaching Dera Bugti after receiving information about the siege of Nawab Bugti’s residence by the FC men. He said that these people had no confidence in the government assurances and that was why they were trying to reach Dera Bugti for the protection of Nawab Bugti and other people.

The spokesman also denied the claim of the provincial Home Ministry that only 500 FC men had been deployed in Dera Bugti district. He said that over 3,000 FC men were present in the township, while more personnel were moving towards Dera Bugti.

The provincial government sources confirmed deployment of 500 personnel of civil armed forces in view of continuous attacks on gas fields, causing huge losses during the last three months.