QUETTA, Oct 27: Nawabzada Talal Akbar Bugti, the Chief of Jamhoori Watan Party (Talal group), has called upon the government to grant provincial autonomy to Balochistan, as was suggested in the party’s bill tabled in the Senate during the lifetime of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.

Speaking at a press conference at the Bugti House on Monday, he presented a number of demands to resolve the Balochistan issue and said the PPP government should take practical steps to take the province out of the impasse.

The demands included halt to military operation in Dera Bugti and Kohlu, withdrawal of security forces from the two districts and closure of ISI and MI offices in the area. He demanded release of all arrested and missing people allegedly held by intelligence agencies.

He also sought restoration of tribal system in Dera Bugti area, saying tribesmen would accept no arrangement other than the restoration of the previous one under which the region was designated ‘B’ area, under the control of Levies. At present police supervise the region as it has been designated an ‘A’ area.

Talal Bugti said the government should restore privileges enjoyed by his tribe during the days of Nawab Akbar Bugti, pay royalty from an unspecified back date and recognise him as the chief of Bugti tribe.

The administration of the Oil and Gas Development Company (OGDC) should be directed to meet him and pay outstanding dues. He also demanded payment of royalty by the Uch gas plant for using the land of Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti, Nawabzada Gram Bugti and Mir Chakar Bugti. He also demanded payment of royalty by the OGDC to the province and spending of half of the royalty amount on the development of Dera Bugti.

He also demanded rehabilitation of the people displaced from Dera Bugti and Sui areas and compensation of the losses they suffered during the period.

Others demands included reinstatement of all sacked PPL employees belonging to the Bugti tribe, ban on settlement of outsiders in Gwadar, return of Rs100 million and one million dollars claimed by security forces to have seized from the place where Nawab Bugti was killed.