TWO persons were killed when security forces opened fire on protesters in Balochistan’s Sibi area. The chief minister of Balochistan has ordered a judicial inquiry…. In the present … set-up, the link with Balochistan is being weakened; it’s a matter of concern that the rulers have no concern…. The situation in Balochistan was already tense and the Baloch leadership has been raising its voice against the targeted killing of Baloch youth and their mysterious disappearance. When the PPP government came into power, it announced a package for Baloch rights but this yielded no results as it has not been implemented. The government failed to stop the killing of Baloch activists.

Reconciliation with the Baloch nationalists was never taken up. Strangely, three provinces have one policy while the fourth has another…. Targeted killings in Balochistan are common, but now the Baloch leadership, activists and their families are not secure in the capital of the Sindh province either. The wife, daughter and driver of the Balochistan MPA Bakhtiar Khan Domki were killed by unidentified armed men in Karachi.

Members of the Balochistan Assembly staged a walkout in the House to protest against the incident and demanded that the Sindh government arrest the killers. But the Sindh government’s performance remains painful. …The Balochistan issue needs serious thought and effort. There is a need to solve this issue through talks with the Baloch leadership. Instead of doubting the patriotism of the Baloch the latter should be treated sympathetically. It has been the demand of the Baloch leadership that they should be heard…. But the government pays no heed. Hence they are being pushed away from a peaceful struggle for the acceptance of their demands. It is imperative, the sorrows and pains of Balochistan be diagnosed properly….—(Feb 5)

Selected and translated by Sohail Sangi