QUETTA, July 9: Chief of Balochistan National Party (Mengal) Sardar Akhtar Mengal has alleged that the increase in bomb attacks in the Bugti and Marri areas are meant for targetting Nawab Akbar Bugti, Mir Bramdagh Bugti and Nawabzada Balaach Marri, and called upon of the international community to take note of the situation.

Speaking to newsmen at Quetta Press Club on Saturday, Mr Mengal said that in order to resolve the Balochistan issue through dialogue, Baloch leadership would hold talks with the government only under the supervision of the United Nations and the European Union.

Talks without the mediation of neutral elements would be meaningless, he added.

He alleged that jet planes and helicopters had been used to bomb the Domki area of Lehri Tehsil. He said the Domki tribe was punished because the MPA from the area had quit the government in protest against the bombing of Dera Bugti and Kohlu.

The BNP-M chief asserted that the jet planes and helicopters accelerated the bombing between July 2 and 5 in the Bugti and Marri areas in order to eliminate Nawab Akbar Bugti, Bramdagh Bugti and Balaach Marri. He said rockets with a range as long as 50km were also used, killing hundreds of cattle.

He accused the security forces of shooting at seven handicapped Marri tribesmen in Kohlu district. Besides, five women and seven children from the area were taken away to some unknown location, he added.

He said that in “such a grave situation”, it is incumbent upon the United Nations and the European Union to take note of the “excesses”.

He maintained that such acts could not force the Baloch people to compromise on their national rights.

The former chief minister said that a government spokesman had now confessed to the use of helicopters in the mentioned areas, “thereby proving our assertion of a military operation true.”

To a question whether a large number of Bugti tribesmen had surrendered before the government, he said that in the insurgency of 70’s as well, the then government had made such a false assertion, so much so that the number of those surrendered had crossed the total population of Balochistan.

He said that the four-party Baloch Alliance would meet soon to determine the future course of action.

Also present on the occasion were party leaders MPA Mir Akbar Mengal, Habib Jalib Baloch, Dr Jehanzeb and Sajid Tareen.