Balochistan unrest
SEPARATISTS and nationalists, secular political party workers, settlers, Hazaras, policemen, civilians killed by landmines and IEDs — is anyone safe in Balochistan anymore? The last few days and weeks have seen the front pages of newspapers filled with stories of all shades of violence in the province, whether sectarian, Islamist, political or ethnic. The Awami National Party has been the latest victim, but the day before the Kuchlak blast saw the discovery of the dead bodies of six miners — likely settlers from Swat — and dozens of Hazaras have been killed this year. Alongside these stories have been running reports of the Supreme Court’s persistent efforts to get security forces to produce missing people in court and restore law and order.
But the SC has done about as much as it can, and its limited success so far points to the real roadblocks standing in the way of peace in Balochistan: the issue of missing persons requires a political solution spearheaded by a committed federal government and accompanied by a change in the mindset of security agencies. Underpinning all of this will have to be a genuine resolve to address the concerns of Baloch nationalists and even separatists; measures like Aghaz-i-Huqooq-i-Balochistan are important, but will not be enough. Prime Minister Gilani’s government had made feeble attempts to bring Baloch leaders to the negotiating table, and the new prime minister has made a similar effort through his call for talks in Quetta yesterday. But nothing has come out of such rhetoric in the past, and there will be no movement until capable interlocutors with contacts and respect among Baloch leaders are given a concrete mandate to launch talks in a meaningful way, through back channels if necessary. That would also provide a basis to ask security agencies to rein in their zeal to ‘disappear’ people with real and imagined links to separatist activities.
When it comes to the broader law and order problem, however, the provincial government has a larger role to play, and is failing miserably. It is true that the Raisani government has limited room to manoeuvre; despite, for example, repeated declarations that the Frontier Corps should report to the provincial administration, most recently at the end of May, the organisation is widely perceived to operate outside civilian control. But policing is also inadequate, failing to prevent the kidnappings and killings of settlers and Hazaras, and provincial lawmakers are perceived as being corrupt and more concerned with personal feuds than the province’s law-and-order and development problems. Along with the federal government, they continue to let the people of Balochistan down.
The Bloch are a brave people. They wish to live with dignity with status at par with other nationalities in Pakistan be it Punjabi, Sindis, Sairakis, Pakhtoons or others. The are very broad minded and kind hearted just as the are very bold and fierce soldiers. They would happily live in Pakistan if only they have an opportunity to fulfill their political, economic and social aspirations. Time is running out. Please change your hegemionalistic mindset. Make amends and stay together for the welfare of Pakistan at large and Baluchistan in particular. Chawla
Why not let them have their own nation rather than oppress and rule them..
Ok,but it is also importent that the state is not seen as rewarding and appeasing those who take up arms against the country,carry out insurgency and kill innocent people.Presently the courts and at times government seems to be doing exactly that.While taking up the case of missing persons ,the courts should also ask police about investigating the alleged crimes committed by them and consider that as well; instead of one sided approach of blaming LEAs.Otherwise ,it would encourage more people to take up arms.
It is a grave misfortune on the part of the Pakistanis that we never look into the causes of a festering wounds. Court is trying to locate the cases against the citizens of this country who are exterminated without any cases being lodged against them and without any cases being made public. Court is also trying to find out the forces who have become self-proclaimed law, executors and the judges which is sheer violation of the constitution of this land.
The fact of the matter remains that all the problems in Balochistan seek their roots from the establishment's overhandedness in the political matters. It goes without saying that the issue of Balochistan is a political one and, therefore, should be thrashed out by political forces rather than the apolitical ones. To substantiate the foregoing statement, it is enough to quote the Irfan Hussein's article's reference which says Balochistan saw a 30 percent rise in the growth of maddrasshas from 1999 to 2011. All these maddrassahs produce best recruits for banned outfits and they specially focus the Baloch belt to systematically radicalize otherwise a secular people. Secondly, the recent attack on ANP's workers is also from the 'strategic assets' of Pakistan who are well-camped in Khuchlak as refugees without having proper documentation. Thirdly, the estranged nationalist were once part of the assemblies. The staunchest of whom, Nawab Khair Bahksh Marri, was part of National Assembly during constitution making process in 1972-73. But, what happened that pushed him and his likes to a point of no return is an open secret to all. In brief, all the issues plaguing Balochistan directly or indirectly get linked with apolitical forces who wield all the power in province and mishandle it gravely through sheer power of gun. In fact, they see everything with a security prism and suspect everyone who may otherwise be a fine patriot and thus turning him to the other side. In brief, all the issues of Balochistan can be solved in matter of seconds if the apolitical forces are depoliticized and the matter is brought to the mother institution–parliament. There is no other way either with separatist or the establishment to solve the issue other than the parliament and fullest de-militarization of the province.
Who are the apolitical forces? Stop the 'zulm' (oppression) from Jhelum.