February 3, 2003	Monday	Zilhaj 1,1423

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MULTAN, Feb 2: The provincial government sent three platoons of the Punjab Constabulary from here to Rajanpur on Sunday to man the Kashmor-Sui Road.

A contingent of 120 personnel moved towards the troubled area in the afternoon to patrol that part of the road which comes under the Punjab near Marzari Goth, some 340 kilometres from here in southwest.

Some 350 personnel of the rangers have already been deployed in Mazari Goth to safeguard the 21-kilometre-long gas pipeline that passes through the deserted area which has been turned into a battle field by the warring Mazari and Bugti tribes.

The natural gas supply to the Punjab and upcountry was suspended twice during the last 10 days of the previous month allegedly by Bugti tribesmen. It is surprising to note that neither the federal nor provincial governments have so far come out with a clear explanation of the Jan 21 and 26 blasts.

MISSING POLICEMEN: The Rajanpur police is yet to recover the three police personnel — inspector Farooq Leghari, constable Nazar Husain and driver Muhammad Tufail. They were reportedly kidnapped by the Bugti tribesmen from the Indus Highway on Jan 26 last in the jurisdiction of the Rojhan police station.

OVERZEALOUS PA: The situation in the troubled area took an interesting turn on Sunday when the Rajanpur political assistant, Chaudhry Muhammad Aslam, reached Dera Bugti, wearing uniform of the commandant of the border military police (BMP) along with a Mazari driver.

The PA reportedly tried to meet Nawab Akbar Bugti but failed. However, he sent messages back to Rajanpur that he was trying to convince Nawab Bugti to agree to hold a jirga to settle differences with the Mazaris.

A senior official in Dera Bugti told Dawn that the PA had told him that he was under tremendous pressure to resolve the dispute.

“He has informed the Dera Bugti administration that he has been made a sand bag to release all sorts of pressure by the high-ups since the Mazari-Bugti clashes hit the headlines. His 10-day leave application and resignation later on had been rejected,” he quoted the PA as telling the Dera Bugti administration.

Sources in Rajanpur told Dawn that earlier on Saturday night Ch Aslam contacted some Mazaris saying: “I wanted to address a press conference to uncover the official inefficiencies behind the law and order problem in Rajanpur.” He was however told that it was too late in the night to address a press conference.

Rajanpur DCO Samiullah Abid was not available to comment on the situation.

After the introduction of devolution plan, the office of PA comes under the direct control of provincial home secretary.

It is learnt that efforts are underway to convince Mr Chaudhry to come back, who is stated to be the first PA wearing the BMP uniform in 15 years.

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