Many of those who have come from other provinces with the stated intention of serving Balochistan and leading it towards prosperity have, in fact, done the opposite. The reason having a fake domicile is clear: to take advantage of the lack of access to education in Balochistan that gives these “carpetbaggers” a testing advantage in the government’s competitive examinations, and the knowledge that Balochistan’s citizens lack the means to challenge the hijacking of federal posts, Central Superior Services (CSS) quotas and foreign scholarships.

The people who are issued fake domiciles do not necessarily end up working in Balochistan, but merely in some position in the federal government. Wherever the position, it is obtained by ‘hijacking’ the Balochistan quota for federal jobs, which is currently a mere 6pc.

I won’t go back in history to cite evidence of this; instead, allow me to put a recent case before you. The CSS is the most competitive exam in the country and opens the door to dream jobs for almost every young person in Pakistan. The Balochistan domiciles of two CSS officers who qualified in 2014 have just been declared fake, while they are on their way to benefit from this falsely acquired qualification. Though more than three months have passed, an official public announcement of this discovery has yet to be issued by the commissioner of Quetta, despite his assurances and repeated requests from those who brought this matter to his attention. And I doubt whether it will ever be issued because it seems that Balochistan is there to be exploited, directly or indirectly.

Of the many inequities that the Baloch people face in the country, the issue of “fake domicile” is but one — however, it is one that can no longer be ignored

Let’s put ourselves in the shoes of those young people of Balochistan who are deprived of the opportunity to benefit from the exam quota from their province. Food for thought: how did both these fake domicile holders escape the verification team? How were they able to be successfully installed in their respective positions? Was it payoffs? Something else?

A petroleum engineer from Balochistan has been in search of a job since 2012. He burned the midnight oil studying, and secured a good percentage from the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta — but all in vain. It is just his bad luck that people who hold fake domiciles of his province have gotten away with what was rightfully his. Interestingly, one day a high official from Islamabad asked him if he had been visiting the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in search of a job. Then he was asked, “Why not make a domicile from Balochistan? It would be very easy for you to get a job on their quota.” There was nothing the engineer could say as he seethed inside. Eventually he replied, “Sir, I belong to an area of Balochistan where gas is being produced and companies are working; yet I have been denied a posting there. On the other hand, people from other provinces come and join companies with fake domiciles. But I can do nothing while all this is being done in front of my eyes.”

In a statement, the then chief minister, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, urged the federal government “to ensure scrutiny of domicile certificates before giving jobs on the basis of the provincial quota to people claiming to be residents of Balochistan”. But rather than depending on the federal government, the former chief minister should have represent ed his constituency by taking notice of the case of the two CSS officers and established a committee to investigate the fake domicile cases.

Before establishing the local government in Balochistan (2014), if someone had to get a domicile made, he had to first get affirmation from two well-known (muatbar) personalities of the area where the applicant lived; then the application would be signed by the tehsildar and forwarded to the nazim for his signature, after which the tehsil muncipal officer (TMO) would sign it. Lastly, the application would be approved by the deputy commissioner.

Under the current political system, the ward councillor and two well-known personalities write affirmations that the applicant lives in that town.  The chairman signs it, and then the application is signed by the tehsildar, the TMO and, lastly, by the deputy commissioner.

Once the application has begun to move through the chain of signatories, the actual domicile is apparently not verified or signatories are just expected to “look the other way”. Ironically, the falsification probably begins most often at the level of the notable (muatbar). 

Thousands of stories can be found of how fake domiciles are being made and sold, and who benefits from them. Indeed, if the Balochistan government starts verifying the domiciles of the upcoming beneficiaries of the Higher Education Commission’s Aghaaz-i-Haqooq-i-Balochistan foreign-funded scholarship, more cases of fake domiciles would certainly be revealed.

 Many politicians have used their clout to get fake domiciles approved in order to strengthen their vote bank. Or it may be a matter of a deputy commissioner or any other person who holds a high position in any city of Balochistan but who hails from another province requesting that the nazim or ward councillor favour one of his relatives.

Thousands of stories can be found of how fake domiciles are being made and sold, and who benefits from them. Indeed, if the Balochistan government starts verifying the domiciles of the upcoming beneficiaries of the Higher Education Commission’s Aghaaz-i-Haqooq-i-Balochistan foreign-funded scholarship, more cases of fake domiciles would certainly be revealed.

There should be a monitoring board to check whether the person who has applied for the domicile lives in that particular area. Does he or his family have property? Before issuing the domicile, the deputy commissioner should inquire about the applicant’s family background, etc.

Balochistan continues to cry out. Its educated but poverty-stricken young people are neglected because power elites use their power to profit themselves. Enough is enough. The suppressive and exploitative policies will never ensure peace; however, they are sure to erupt in the manner of an uncontrollable cyclone if they are permitted to continue.

Shah Meer is a NUML graduate in International Relations and researches South Asian politics.

Twitter: @ShahmeerAlbaloshi

Email: shahmeer577@gmail.com

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, January 31st, 2016