QUETTA, April 24: The government has withdrawn troops which were guarding the ancestral graveyard of late nationalist leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti in Dera Bugti and allowed relatives and other people to visit his grave.

Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisani confirmed the withdrawal of troops from the graveyard and said he had sought details of cases registered against members of Nawab Bugti’s family.

“I have directed the chief secretary to submit details of cases registered against the members of the family of Shaheed leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti,” Nawab Aslam told Dawn on Thursday night, adding that false cases would be withdrawn.

He said the government was planning to resettle all displaced members of Nawab Bugti’s family in their native town as soon as possible.

The chief minister said the Bugti family had the right to visit the grave of Nawab Bugti and the government had withdrawn security personnel guarding the graveyard. “I will ask the authorities concerned who had stopped the family members from visiting the grave of Nawab Bugti,” he said.

He said the Hindus living in Dera Bugti would be provided complete protection that they enjoyed when Nawab Bugti was alive.

Meanwhile, official sources said troops guarding the Sui gas pipelines and other installations had not been withdrawn.

“Army and FC personnel are in their positions in the area for protecting the Sui plant and other national installations,” they said. They said police were performing their duty of curbing crimes and subversive activities in Dera Bugti district.

They said security forces would help police against militants whenever the need arose.

A large number of people were reported to be arriving in Dera Bugti and going to the graveyard to offer Fateha for Nawab Bugti at his grave.