ISLAMABAD March 11: Jamhoori Watan Party leader Shahid Bugti on Saturday dismissed as baseless the government’s claims that Friday’s landmine blast had occurred in Dera Bugti area or it had anything to do with the Bugti tribe’s struggle for its inalienable rights.

Talking to newsmen at Parliament House, senator-elect Bugti condemned the landmine explosion in which 28 people were killed, contradicting the government’s allegations against his tribe.

He said the incident had occurred in Barkhan dis-

trict some 140km from Dera Bugti.

Accompanied by JWP Senator Amanullah Kanrani and MNA Abdur Rauf Mengal, he said Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was leading his tribe in its fight for regaining provincial rights from a mountain and was in good health.

He also refuted charges that the explosion was meant to harm Bugti or Mesoori tribe.