Former prime minister and ruling Pakistan Muslim League senior leader Zafarullah Khan Jamali disputed the burial of Akbar Bugti without handing over the body to his heirs. Talking to journalists at the Parliament House after National Assembly sitting, Jamali remarked: "I don't want to say anything about Bugti sahib, and would like to do so in the Assembly during the debate."
However, he reluctantly agreed to talk on the matter after journalists pressed him and sought his views. In a very careful manner, he advocated for handing over of the body to the heirs, saying that this was in line with the Shariah and Baloch traditions.
He disputed government claim of offering funeral prayers for the Baloch leader and contended that without showing his face to his relatives and seeking their consent, the funeral and burial could not be held. "It was his relatives' right to see the body and bury him where they wished," Jamali said in reply to a question.
He cautioned that Balochistan would move towards a very dangerous situation, if timely damage control measures were not adopted. "The Balochistan scenario ahead is not very good. I believe in the Federation and Pakistan, as did the JWP leader, who was a member of the 'royal jirga' that opted for Pakistan," he said.