QUETTA, May 19 Nawabzada Aali S. Bugti was elected chief of the Bugti tribe on Tuesday to succeed his late grandfather Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.

A ceremony was held in Sui to formally inaugurate Aali Bugti as the tribe's chief and Amirhan Faqir, the custodian of the shrine of Pir Suri, helped him don the traditional turban and handed over the tribal sword to him.

The 'dastarbandi' ceremony was attended by chief waderas of Pirozani, Shambani, Mandrani, Masuri, Kalpar and Notani clans. Nawabzada Talah Saleem Bugti and Mir Fahd Bugti, son of late Mir Ahmed Nawaz Bugti, also attended the ceremony.

Aali Bugti is son of Nawabzada Saleem Akbar Bugti, who died of heart attack when Nawab Bugti was alive. He was with Nawab Akbar Bugti when the latter left his home to lead his tribesmen to the mountains when the military launched an operation in the area and disappeared after Nawab Bugti's death on August 26, 2006. He returned to Sui three weeks ago, along with his younger brother.

“Sardar Aali Bugti would visit Dera Bugti in a few days,” Daryan Khan Bugti, the spokesman for the JWP (Aali group) said, adding that he would visit his grandfather's grave.

After the ceremony, Aali Bugti paaaid tribute to his grandfather for sacrificing his life and pledged to uphold Baloch traditions and rights of the Baloch people.

Stressing the need for unity in the tribe, he said he would not relent in the struggle for the rights of Baloch people.

Talking to reporters, he said that he was ready to hold talks with anyone on the basis of democratic principles. He said he would play his role to ensure the return of Bugti tribesmen displaced by the military operation.