The 79-year-old tribal chieftain, who had been leading a violent struggle against the government, died along with several of his supporters after troops attacked his cave in Kohlu area, about 200 km east of Quetta, over the weekend. His body is yet to be recovered. The government said that Bugti’s body would be handed over to his family as and when it was recovered from the rubble of the cave.

Rioters ransacked government offices, banks, a national airline office, a hotel and set ablaze several shops in Quetta, Gawadar and Pasni. A mob torched the regional office of the government-run National Bank of Pakistan in Gawadar. The Balochistan Assembly session was aborted for the day and the legislature adjourned for several days following protests from Opposition parties in the House.

KJM VARMA