28 January 2005	Friday	17 Zilhaj 1425

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DERA BUGTI, Jan 27: Chief of the Jamhoori Watan Party Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti has ruled out any possibility of talks on the Sui crisis unless the issue of assault on a lady doctor is sorted out , saying the atmosphere is not conducive for talks at the moment.

Talking to Dawn here on Thursday, Nawab Bugti said: "Such incidents do not take place in our land. It has become a matter of deep concern for the Baloch people." The veteran Baloch leader alleged that attempts were made at various levels to hush up the incident and even an FIR was not registered.

He pointed out that it was only after the ugly incident, which angered the local people, that the Sui gas field was attacked. In return, Nawab Bugti alleged, the government bombed the area, killing five people including women and children and leaving 32 wounded.

When asked about a government inquiry into the incident, he said that since independence numerous inquiries had taken place in the country, but without any result. Even the murder of Liaquat Ali Khan, he added, still remained a mystery.

Referring to Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain's statement on Balochistan, he said the MQM chief was right in saying that installations could be repaired or rebuilt but lost honour could not be restored.

In reply to a question, he said that he and his people were in "a semi-war like situation imposed on us by the centre". When asked if other local tribes would side with the Bugtis if hostilities broke out, the Baloch leader said: "Only time will tell".

Replying to a question about the setting up of a cantonment in Sui, Nawab Bugti said the people would resist such an 'occupation' of their land. He said that like the people of Kashmir and Palestine, the Baloch people were seeking their legitimate rights.

About the recent deployment of forces in his area, Nawab Bugti said: "As yet they have not been used against us but air surveillance of our land is taking place."