QUETTA, June 21: The Frontier Corps was strengthening its position in Dera Bugti, deploying more militiamen in the area to launch an operation, Jamhoori Watan Party sources said here on Friday.

“The tension is mounting in Dera Bugti as the tribesmen have also taken up positions in and around the residence of Nawab Bugti,” they claimed.

The government, the sources also claimed, had handed over a list of wanted people to Akbar Bugti asking their surrender within 36 hours.

However, Mr Bugti had already denied the charges that any of his tribesmen was involved in rocket attacks on gas installations in Sui and other gas fields.

“The Bugtis can never destroy gas fields in Dera Bugti District as they earn their bread from there,” JWP sources said, adding that despite heavy deployment, the law-enforcement agencies had failed to arrest any person involved in these attacks.

These sources again said the government might launch an operation against the accused, but the official sources here said the operation was under way in gas fields where some suspects were arrested for their alleged involvement in the rocket attacks and firing on gas wells and pipelines.

The officials clarified that the militiamen were deployed in Sui and other gas fields to avoid further attacks on gas installations.

They also confirmed the visit of Inspector-General of Frontier Corps and other senior officers to Dera Bugti and Sui the other day. These officers had gone to review the situation and steps taken by the FC for the security of important installations.