Mir Sarfraz Bugti (Urdu, Balochi: میر سرفراز بگٹی) is a Pakistani politician who is currently serving as the Chief Minister of Balochistan since March 2024. He belongs to the Pakistan People's Party. Prior to his current role, Bugti has served as Home and Tribal Affairs Minister of Balochistan.[1] Bugti also served as a senator of Pakistan from March 2015 to March 2021.[2]
On 17 August 2023, he took oath as Caretaker Interior Minister and resigned from the position on 15 December 2023.[3][4]
His father Mir Ghulam Qadir Masori Bugti was a tribal elder of the Masori sub-clan of the Bugti tribe who was a member of General Zia's Majlis-e-Shoora before becoming a part of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).[6] Mir Ghulam was known to be active against the sardari or neo-feudal system of Balochistan and being a political rival of Nawab Akbar Bugti.[5]
His brother Jan Mohammad Bugti has also been active in politics as a PPP candidate.[7]
Sarfraz was arrested in 2007 when he reached his village to oversee preparations for the forthcoming elections and later jailed under maintenance of public order charges and Jan Muhammad Bugti was allegedly kidnapped by security agencies from the office of the Election Commission in Dera Bugti when he had gone there to file his nomination paper.[8]
In 2013, he won the Provincial Assembly elections from Constituency PB-24 as a representative of the Baloch community from Dera Bugti with a clear majority as an independent candidate by securing 10013 votes, and after elections joined PML (N).[9]
Sarfraz became Minister of Interior of Balochistan on 14 October 2013.
National politics as Caretaker Interior Minister
In August 2023, he took charge as the country's Caretaker Interior Minister.
In 2024, Bugti was elected unopposed as the Chief Minister of Balochistan.[12] This came after he joined the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). He also got the support of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN). His nomination for this post was announced by People's Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari.[13] Bugti outlined a comprehensive plan of about sixty measures aimed at enhancing governance. He urged ministers to actively engage with their respective departments, ensure effective service delivery and accountability. To assess progress, key performance indicators (KPIs) will be established to assess departmental performance.[14]
In a BBC interview, Bugti claimed that the Indian agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) was involved in funding and arming militants in Balochistan, but that it stopped doing so after its agent was arrested in Balochistan.[18][19]
Publications
“The Role of Intelligence Agencies in Balochistan” (Paper presented at a two days national workshop held in National Defence University, Islamabad, July 17-18, 2012).[20]
^Akbar, Malik Siraj (20 August 2016). "Why Modi's statements should be the least of our worries on Balochistan". Dawn News. Retrieved 18 August 2023. Instead of healing the Baloch people's wounds, the establishment has promoted a dangerous wave of hyper Pakistani nationalism. Hence, people like Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti spend most of their time questioning other people's patriotism and resort to bizarre ways to prove themselves as better Pakistanis than the rest.
