QUETTA, April 10: Jamhoori Watan Party chief Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti said on Sunday that the blockade of Dera Bugti was continuing and roads had not been opened despite an announcement by the government made in this regard. “The blockade of Dera Bugti is continuing and the road between Dera Bugti and Sui is still closed,” he told Dawn over telephone from his native town. He said people in Dera Bugti were facing shortage of food, medicines and other items as no supplies could reach the township due to the blockade.

He said that under the agreement the first step was to open the road between Sui and Dera Bugti while vacating pickets and bunkers was the second step. The first step had not been implemented so far, he said.

“So far, it is a mere announcement and no practical step has been taken for implementing the agreement,” the JWP chief said.

Nawab Bugti said that according to the agreement announced by the government, the security forces and Bugti tribesmen would remove all unnecessary bunkers and pickets between Sui and Dera Bugti.

He said it was the government’s responsibility to chalk out the schedule for vacating the pickets and trenches.

He said the tribesmen would only vacate “additional” pickets and trenches in Dera Bugti. “We will retain our pickets and bunkers which are necessary for our security, defence and self-protection,” he said.

He said the security forces would have to vacate around 15 bunkers and pickets of the 20 they had established between Sui and Dera Bugti, while the tribesmen had five or six pickets and bunkers, which would be removed under the agreement.

He said the government had provided a list of 62 checkpoints and pickets of tribesmen, which was not correct.

Responding to a question, he said there was no change in the situation in Dera Bugti.