The Swiss government rejects Brahumdagh Bugti’s asylum application

GENEVA: The government of Switzerland has rejected the political asylum application of pro-freedom Baloch leader and head of Baloch Republican Party Brahumdagh Bugti. Mr Bugti confirmed the news in a tweet on Wednesday.

Brahumdagh Bugti fled to Afghanistan after his grandfather Nawab Akbar Bugti was assassinated by Pakistan army under direct orders from Pakistan then president and military chief General Parvez Musharraf in August 2006.

In Afghanistan also, the ISI hired an Afghan journalist who later exposed the ISI’s plot to killed Mr Bugti. Journalist Nawab Mohamand claimed that ISI offered him a sum of 30 million to assassinate Brahumdagh and Indian ambassador in Afghanistan.

In January 2012 gunmen killed Mr Bugti 34-year-old sister and her 13-year-old daughter in Karachi. Brahumdagh Bugti later accused ISI of killing his sister and niece. The only survivor of the attack was a maid employed by the family who later told media that she “feel certain that the killings were carried out to convey a message to Brahmadagh Bugti.”

Soon after Mr Bugti broke the news of refusal of his asylum, the Baloch social media and human rights activists took to Twitter and urged the Swiss government to review its decision. They Baloch activists also strongly criticised the government of Switzerland for bowing to pressure from Pakistan.

It is not clear yet if Mr Bugti has the right to appeal against the decision of Swiss government or he has exhausted his all right of appeal.

Given the hostility of Pakistan army toward pro-freedom Baloch activists and leaders it more likely that Bugti will be arrested and killed, if the government of Switzerland force him to return to Balochistan.