QUETTA, June 29: Three elders of the Bugti tribe, claiming to be commanders of an armed group of JWP leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, have laid down their arms and renounced violence.

Speaking at a press conference at the Quetta Press Club on Thursday, Neyal Khan, Saeed Khan and Bangan Khan admitted to have carried out subversive activities at the behest of Brahamdagh Bugti, a grandson of Nawab Bugti.

They said that after realising that Nawab Bugti had got tribesmen involved in a conflict with the government for personal gains, and not for the interest of the Bugti tribe, they decided to extend cooperation to the government.

They said that destroying power pylons or damaging railway tracks caused hardships to the general public and violence disrupted normal life.

The tribal elders claimed that they and their colleagues wanted to avail themselves of the general amnesty announced by President Musharraf, pursue a peaceful life and take part in development activities aimed at providing basic amenities to tribesmen of Dera Bugti.

Home Minister Mir Shoiab Nausherwani assured the elders that the government would provide them protection. He said the government was acting only against saboteurs who were destroying state installations.

He said there was no dispute between the government and tribesmen as all issues could be resolved if some tribal chiefs stopped using arms against the state or targeting national assets.