Tribune : Musharraf may order purge of army commanders

Musharraf may order purge of army commanders

Muhammad Anwer for ANI | Quetta | September 7, 2006

President Pervez Musharraf has reportedly taken umbrage over senior army commanders unexpectedly questioning his motive in ordering a military operation against senior Baluch leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti that resulted in the latter's death on August 26.

Informed sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told ANI on Thursday that Musharraf is likely to order a reshuffle, if not a purge of army commanders very soon, for their "temerity" in suggesting that there was no justification for the operation in the Bhambore Hills of Baluchistan's Kohlu area.

According to one source, President Musharraf failed to convince a majority of his Corps commanders, most of them of Lt-General rank, about the need for such a military operation when they met at the 98th Corps Commanders Conference at the general headquarters in Rawalpindi recently.

Attempts by Lt-Gen. Hamid Rab Nawaz, the Commander of the XII Corps, to give a detailed presentation about the prevailing situation in Baluchistan in the wake of Nawab Akbar Bugti's killing, failed to cut ice with the other commanders.

At least five of the nine commanders forthrightly expressed their dismay and concern over the latest developments in Baluchistan. They are believed to have said that the federal government had "kept them and other important personalities in the dark about the Kohlu operation" and warned that the killing of Bugti, a former provincial chief minister and federal minister, did not bode well for Baluchistan or the country.

The Vice-Chief of the Army Staff, General Ahsan Saleem Hayat, is also said to have expressed grave reservations about the operation, in spite of Musharraf telling all participants that the overall situation in the country was satisfactory.

Meanwhile, the Musharraf regime has zeroed in on Changez Khan Marri, the son of Baluch tribal leader Kher Baksh Marri, or former Baluchistan Chief Minister Zulfiqar Magsi to take over as Governor of Baluchistan.

With the tense situation in Pakistan's largest province showing no signs of abating, the federal government is of the view that Governor's rule needs to be imposed.

Changez Khan Marri is a member of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Qaid) and an important tribal personality. Islamabad believes that Marri's known closeness to Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti may help in bringing the situation in Baluchistan under control.

Having made an overall assessment of the politico-military situation in Baluchistan, and being aware of the opposition Balochistan National Party (BNP), Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) and Awami National Party's (ANP) moves to resign from the provincial assembly and withdraw support, the federal government says that Governor's Rule is the only option left to it.

Sources said that if Governor's Rule is imposed, the impact of this action may affect the functioning of the National Assembly.

On Wednesday, Rauf Mengal, the lone member of the Baluchistan National Party (BNP) in the National Assembly, resigned over the Akbar Bugti killing issue.

In emotional 20-minute speech that was heard amid pin drop silence, Mengal said: "I am quitting in protest against the killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti in a military operation in Baluchistan and against the kidnapping of political workers by the agencies. That leaves me with no reason to continue as a member of this House."

Mengal was reacting to the Army and the Pakistani Rangers have taken over 500 BNP and Baluchistan Student Organisation (BSO) activists into custody.