DERA BUGTI: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti on Monday formally assumed responsibilities as the eighth Chief of the Bugti tribes during a traditional turban-tying ceremony held in the Bekar area of Dera Bugti district.
The position of Chief of Bugti is regarded as the highest rank within the Bugti tribe after the Nawab. The current Nawab, Mir Aali Khan Bugti, heads all six Bugti clans and was selected following the death of his grandfather, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti. According to historical records, the title of Chief of Bugti was first conferred on Mir Sarfraz Bugti’s grandfather in the early 1800s, reflecting a long-standing tradition of tribal leadership within the Bugti community.
The Dastar Bandi ceremony was attended by tribal chiefs, elders, and prominent figures from various Bugti clans. Members of the Nawab Bugti family, including Nawabzada Zamran Saleem Akbar Bugti, were also present. Mir Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti was formally adorned with the turban, marking his official elevation as Chief of the Bugti tribes.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Bugti called for dialogue and negotiations with the state, urging armed Baloch groups to renounce violence and rejoin the national mainstream. He said the Baloch nation was being drawn into what he described as a futile conflict and stressed that political or national objectives could not be achieved through violence.
He particularly appealed to Baloch youth who had taken up arms to reconsider their course and opt for talks. He stated that the government and the state were open to dialogue but also emphasised that the writ of the state would be enforced.
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Thanking the Bugti tribes for placing their trust in him, Mr Bugti said the turban symbolised a responsibility rather than an honour. He pledged to uphold values of justice, brotherhood, sincerity, and service, and promised to work with dedication for the welfare of his people.
He said education would remain a key priority, noting that the Bugti community had lagged behind in this sector. He informed the gathering that steps had already been taken to facilitate the admission of children from the Bugti tribes to institutions such as Lawrence College and Sadiq Public School, Bahawalpur.
The chief minister thanked the Bugti tribes for placing their trust in him, saying the turban was not merely an honour but a sacred responsibility.https://t.co/s1Zllt9nfV
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) December 30, 2025
Mr Bugti also pledged to resolve issues faced by Bugti and neighbouring tribes through dialogue, reconciliation, and constructive engagement. Condemning violence against civilians, labourers, and professionals, he said such acts were against Baloch traditions and values. He added that no ideology could be imposed through force and that respect for tradition and the rule of law must be maintained.
Earlier, tribal elders formally honoured Mir Sarfraz Bugti as Chief of the Bugti tribes, with the turban placed on his head by Nawabzada Zamran Saleem Akbar Khan Bugti along with chiefs of various Bugti sub-tribes.
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