Three killed in bomb attack in Pakistan's southwest
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Oct 19, IRNA
Pakistan-Bomb-Blast
At least three people were killed on Sunday in a bomb attack, apparently targeting son of a former rebel who switched sides in the conflict in the Pakistani province of Balochistan, officials said.
The bomb was attached to a motorcycle and was exploded through remote control device at main bazaar of Dera Bugti, they said.
Six other people were also injured.
Local authorities said that the bomb was aimed at targeting Liaquat Ali Bugti, the son of Hamadan Bugti, who parted ways with a former slain tribal leader Nawaz Akbar Bugti.
Akbar Bugti was killed in a military offensive in August 2006.
Liaquat Ali Bugti was escaped unhurt in the attack, but his two guards were injured in the attack, officials said. Two vehicles were also destroyed in the attack.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack, but Baloch Liberation Army had claimed responsibility for a similar attack on Ali Bugti in the past.
Several people, who had been previously associated with Akbar Bugti, either were killed or changed sides after his killing.
They had deserted Akbar Bugti and reportedly helped the army track him down and kill him.
Balochistan has been under the grip of violence over military offensives as the nationalists want greater share of revenue from Balochistan's gas reserves.
Balochistan is Pakistan's biggest province, and is said to be the richest in mineral resources. It is a major supplier of natural gas to the country.
But for decades, Baloch nationalists have accused the central government in Islamabad of depriving the province of its due.
They say the government took away income from natural gas and other resources, while spending only a trivial amount on the province.
With about six million inhabitants, Pakistan's biggest province has less than half the population of the port city of Karachi.
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