Pakistan asks Interpol for Red Notices against Baloch leader Brahumdagh Bugti

Islamabad/Geneva: Pakistan on Tuesday approached the Interpol seeking Red Notices in the names of Baloch nationalist leader Brahumdagh Bugti and his aide Sher Mohammad Bugti, who are in Geneva, and their arrest. The Baloch leaders said they are not scared and have faith in the Swiss government.

In a letter to Secretary General of France-based Interpol, Director General of Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) urged: "The issuance of Red Notices against Brahumdagh Bugti and his aide Sher Mohammad Bugti is requested and arrest them through Interpol."

Brahumdagh Bugti, president of the Baloch Republican Party (BRP), had last year applied for asylum in India and had expressed confidence that India would accept his request. India has not yet replied to his request.

In the letter to Interpol, the FIA director also said that both Brahamdagh Bugti and Sher Mohammad Bugti were "involved in various terrorist attacks in Balochistan province of Pakistan".

A Red Notice is issued to seek location and arrest of wanted persons with a view to extradition or similar lawful action.

Reacting to Pakistan's move, Sher Mohammad Bugti, spokesperson of the Baloch Republican Party, said the FIA notice labels Baloch separatists and the leader of the party as "terrorists". They received news of the notice through some Pakistani journalists. 

"Pakistan has several times announced bounties on our heads and after failing each and every time they have now approached Interpol seeking Red Notice against me and Brahumdagh Bugti...But we are not scared and we know that Swiss government functions with genuine democracy. They know the reality of the Pakistani government," Sher Mohammad Bugti, told IANS on phone from Geneva.

He added that neither the local government nor Interpol had approached them.

Asked if they still hold Pakistani citizenship, Sher Muhammad said the Swiss government has given them asylum and they (Bugti and him) consider themselves Baloch citizens.

Brahumdagh fled Balochistan to save his life after his grandfather and Bugti tribe head, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, was killed in a Pakistan Army offensive in 2006. He was first given asylum in Afghanistan from where he shifted to Switzerland in 2010 following threat to his life.