QUETTA, April 9: Baloch nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti has refuted government’s claim that two of his commanders have surrendered to the Dera Bugti district coordination officer with their 40 companions. In a statement issued here on Sunday, he said: “The claim that any of my supporters has joined hands with the government or surrendered to the DCO is baseless.”

He said that Zaffar Hajwani presented by the government as a commander of his tribe had been nominated in the case of murder of Sibi range police chief Abdul Aziz Billo and the government had announced a reward on his head.

Sardar Bugti said that Shahmor Bugti, the other person presented as his commander, led a gang of bandits and had been involved in heinous crimes.

“We have nothing to do with them as they are professional criminals,” the Jamhoori Watan Party chief said, adding that the criminals were opposing him to get cases against themselves withdrawn.

Nawab Bugti said his people were with him and their struggle was continuing for the rights of the Baloch people.