QUETTA, Aug 29: Nawabzada Hyrbair Marri on Monday rejected government’s claims that Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti had died because of the collapse of his cave hideout and said that cluster bombs had been used against him and other tribesmen.

A statement issued here on Monday quoted him as saying that armed forces had targeted Nawab Bugti and others with gunship helicopters and jet fighters.

Nawbzada Marri, son of Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, said: “The story of the cave’s collapse is a propaganda ruse of rulers to deceive the people.”

The nationalist leader invited the world media to visit the site of the tragic incident and expose the rulers’ lies.

He said that Nawab Bugti’s death was planned and not an accident. Urging the Baloch people to forge unity in the face of aggression, he said that people would not give up their armed struggle until the achievement of their goal.