QUETTA: Nawabzada Talal Bugti, son of Baloch leader Nawab Mohammad Akbar Khan Bugti and president of his own faction of Jamhoori Watan Party, announced here on Friday that he would take part in general elections under certain conditions.

During a meeting with Mr Ishtiak Ahmed, the Secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan, and other senior ECP officials here on Friday, he demanded that the commission should address concerns of his party regarding security situation, role of law-enforcement agencies and matters pertaining to Dera Bugti district. Otherwise, he said, his party might boycott the elections.

He also demanded peaceful repatriation of his family and internally displaced people of Bugti tribes to Dera Bugti district to enable them to participate in the elections.

The ECP officials assured him that steps would be taken to address his legitimate reservations and to ensure peaceful environment during elections in Dera Bugti and other regions of Balochistan.

Member ECP Justice (retd) Fazlur Rehman, Election Commissioner of Balochistan Sultan Bayazeed and other officials attended the meeting.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Bugti said that secretary of the commission had assured him of removing JWP’s reservations and on this assurance the party had decided to contest the polls.

He, however, warned that the JWP would boycott elections it the party’s concerns were not redressed.

He also demanded removal of some senior officials of the provincial government and law-enforcement agencies.

ECP Secretary Ahmed said that talks with Mr Talal Bugti were fruitful and the latter had agreed to take part in the elections.