[Articles on BALOCHISTAN]

A COMPARISON OF THE CURRENT SITUATION

OF BALUCHISTAN WITH THE SEPARATION OF
EAST PAKISTAN IN 1971
Pakistan cannot afford another sad episode of same gravity and intensity as was in 1971.
UNREST in BALOCHISTAN
Friday, October 01, 2010
The ongoing wave of socio-economic and political turmoil in Balochistan
resembles as well as differs from the social and political unrest, confusions
and chaos that had led to the disarmament and debacle of East Pakistan
(Bangladesh) in 1971.
It is rather unfortunate to mention that the tides of political instability,
national disintegration and socio-economic grievances that had resulted into
the loss of half strength of Pakistan are again assuming horrific proportions
in view of the prevailing Balochistan crises.
But one thing is clear and decided that Pakistan cannot afford another sad
episode of same gravity and intensity as was in 1971 and considering this
fact, efforts have been made to resolve the grievances of Baloch people
through constitutional amendments favouring the grievances of Balochis,
especially formulated Balochistan package and special relief in NFC award to
save Pakistan from any other disaster.
Time is ripe that Balochistan should be given equal provincial
status, the grievances of Balochistan people should be addressed to
ensure peace, harmony and co-operative co-existence in the
country.
Analysis of the factors responsible for Debacle of East Pakistan
1. Unique geographical location of East Pakistan (A distance of 1000 Miles
from East to West Pakistan).
2. Separatist forces active since independence.
3. Political instability and frequent Martial Laws in the country.
4. Social and economic backwardness of East Pakistan.
5. Role of Anti-state elements.
6. Role of Mujeeb-ur-Rehman and Awami National party.
7. Six points of Mujeeb-ur-Rehman.
Current Situation in Balochistan
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1. Balochistan, the largest province in terms of area, but least developed
socially and economically.
2. Grievances of Baloch people and tribal chiefs.
3. Hatred for Punjabis.
4. Demand of Provincial autonomy.
5. Demand of increased share in NFC award due to backwardness and
poverty and area.
6. Royalty over Sui Gas and Mineral Resources.
7. Demand of special grant due to strategic location of Gwadar port.
8. The federal government earns Rs. 95 billion every year from
Balochistans gas. In return the province gets only 6 billion.
9. Scarcity of basic facilities like education, institutions, hospitals etc.
10. Change of Demo graphic Balance of Balochistan due to influx of other
people from other provinces.
Analysis of the whole situation
Steps taken by the government to redress Baloch grievances
Constitution Related Matter
Constitutional amendments about Provincial autonomy being considered
by the parliamentary committee.
Consideration of;
Deletion of concurrent list.
Deletion of police order 2002.
Deletion of Balochistan local government ordinance 2001.
Implementation of Article 153, on the council of common interests.
Implementation of Article 160 (NFC Award)
Newly designed NFC award formula based on four criteria, considering
the problems of Balochistan.
Inverse Population Ratio.
Backwardness.
Poverty.
Resource generation
Political Matters
1. The federal government in consultation with the provincial government,
released all political workers, except those involved in the heinous crimes.
2. Dialogue with the major stakeholders of the province.
3. Local control of the resources (Both mineral and natural gas.)
4. Facilitation of political exiles returned to Pakistan, except those involved
in heinous crimes.
Administrative Matters
1. Review of the Role of federal agencies.
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2. Withdrawal of Army from Sui.
3. Judicial probe for missing persons.
4. Inquiry by the superior judiciary into the murder of Baloch political
workers.
Economic Matters
1. Development of Gwadar port.
2. Jobs for 5000 people.
3. Royalty over gas and Mineral Resources.
An analysis of the Balochistan package given by the present democratic
regime, it can be assessed that concrete, expeditious and substantial efforts
are being made to stop history from repeating itself. Already drowning
Pakistan in the wave of multifarious crises, floods and terrorism cannot
afford another episode like 1971.
Balochistan is the largest province of country, rich in mineral sources and
scenic beauty that contributes a substantial figure in GDP. There is no
denying the fact that Balochistan has historically remained deprived of
financial benefits and socio-economic progress on account of political
instability and nefarious and vested interests of the political parties.
Time is ripe that Balochistan should be given equal provincial status, the
grievances of Balochistan people should be addressed to ensure peace,
harmony and co-operative co-existence in the country.
Dr Quratul Ain Malik (CSP)

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Balochistan Past and Present

Balochistan is bleeding. The dialogue is the only option for the permanent
solution of Balochistan. The present democratic peoples government has to
win the hearts and minds of Baloch people, to save the Federation of
Pakistan.
UNREST in BALOCHISTAN
Friday, October 01, 2010
The treaty of 1876 concluded between the Khan of Kalat and his sardars
under the shadow of the British government was a turning point in the
history of Balochistan. It gave British government a footing on the Baloch soil
at the head of the Bolan Pass trade route from where they could have an eye
over the political development in Afghanistan and on the other hand they
could dominate the whole of the region up to the borders of Iran with a view
to safeguard their imperial interests and at the same time ensure their
commercial interests between Afghanistan and India. Trade with Kandahar
was considered to be very important at that period of time. The British
constructed roads and railway lines for purely strategic reasons.
Baloch scholars lament the injustice and backwardness brought by British
indirect rule. They claim that the Baloch were victimised in every sphere of
life. [Ahmad: Strategic Importance, pp.101-104] All India Muslims League in
its Delhi Muslim Proposals and Quaid-i-Azams Fourteen Points (1927-1929)
demanded provincial status for Balochistan. [Sardar Abdul Rab Nishter: A
Political Biography] Liaquat Ali Khan, secretary-general and deputy leader of
Muslim League, repeatedly raised the question of Balochistan in the Central
Legislative Assembly of British India in 1939, 1941 and 1944. [Martin Axman:
Back to the Future, pp.1-6] According to Ian Talbots study provincial politics
and the Pakistan Movement, the Balochistan Muslim League was initially
established by Qazi Muhammad Isa, a Pashtun lawyer from Pishin during a
small gathering in a mosque in Pishin (1939). It was a one-man band
without a working committee or any other office holders. [Talbot: Provincial
Politics, pp.117-18] Jinnahs visit in June 1943 galvanised the party in
Balochistan.
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In June 1947, the Shahi Jirga was asked to decide about the future of
Balochistan. The Jirga through the controversial referendum decided to join
Pakistan. [Martin: Back to the Future p.197] In March 1948 the Jam of
Lasbela, the Nawab of Kharan and chief of Makran acceded their territories
to Pakistan. Ahmad Yan the Khan of Kalat signed the document of accession
to Pakistan on March 30, 1948. His annual allowance was fixed at Rs.650000.
Prince Abdul Karim opposed the accession of Kalat which was quelled by the
army in 1948.
In October 1958, Ayub Khan used the army against the hostilities of Zehri
and Bugti tribes. On February 10, 1973 arms were discovered from the
embassy of Iraq. Bhutto dismissed Mengal government of Balochistan. This
controversial action escalated tribal uprising into major military
confrontation. The Balochistan Peoples Liberation Front, which drew support
from both students and Mari tribe, numbered around 60000 supporters and
established bases in Kandahar under the command of Mir Hazar Khan and in
Baghdad as well as in Balochistan. [S.A. Qureshi: Asian Survey, September
1979, p.913] At the height of the struggle the Pakistan Air Force receivd
assistance from the Shah of Iran. [S. Harrison: Baloch Nationalism and
Superpower Rivalry, p.154] Shah of Iran had his over Baloch problem.
Although such US analysts as Selig Harrison overestimated the Soviet
security threat, the conflict claimed at least 9000 lives and gravely
undermined the Bhutto regime. Indeed in his testament from his stinking
death cell, Bhutto claimed that the army overrode his plans for a withdrawal
because the generals wanted to spread their tentacles throughout
Balochistan. [Ian Talbot: Pakistan: A Modern History, p.226]
In August 2006 Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was murdered during
military operation near Dera Bugti. It was a tragic incident in the
history of Balochistan which frustrated and antagonised the Baloch
people. General Parvez Musharaf was responsible for this barbaric
act. He openly congratulated the security forces for this successful
operation.
The Balochistan National Army, a nationalist militant secessionist
organisation has been carrying out bomb attacks and target killing since
2002. Several hundred Baloch youth have been abducted by the agencies
who are missing to-date. The present government initiated Aghaz-e-Haqooq
Balochistan, a landmark package which was approved by the parliament.
Balochistan is bleeding. India is taking advantage and covertly supporting
the militants. The dialogue is the only option for the permanent solution of
Balochistan. The present democratic peoples government has to win the
hears and minds of Baloch people, to save the Federation of Pakistan.
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The writer is a renowned columnist.
Email: [email protected]
Qayyum Nizami
Article viewed 427 times.

The Case of Balochistan

The conflict of Balochistan emerged as flashpoint due to unfair
distribution of national wealth and economic exploitation of people.
Bad governance, oppressive economic system, religious extremism
and aspirations based on nationalism are other factors of
Balochistan's problem.
Imran Khan The Pied Piper of Pakistan?
Friday, June 01, 2012
Balochistan is the ideally located province of Pakistan. South Asia, Central
Asia and Middle East regions of the world are connected with Balochistan
borders. Balochistan is very rich in natural resources. Its geostrategic
location and hidden minerals, oil and gas have attracted the world powers
who take keen interest in this region. The US interest was demonstrated
when American Congress passed a resolution in favour of Baloch separatist
nationalists.
The conflict of Balochistan emerged as flashpoint due to unfair distribution of
national wealth and economic exploitation of people. Bad governance,
oppressive economic system, religious extremism and aspirations based on
nationalism are other factors of Balochistan's problem. The democratic
system of Pakistan is flawed. The people have no role in this system. The
rich of Pakistan have hijacked the whole nation. The majority of the people
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do not get basic needs. The unemployed, frustrated and disgusted Baloch
youth feels that Balochistan cannot prosper unless it is liberated.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) is fighting the war of
independence without realising that if they succeed to liberate
Balochistan from Pakistan, they will not be able to secure their
independence from international powers.
The central governments of Pakistan have always patronised the tribal
leaders of Balochistan instead of investing on people. This unfortunate
province remains the poorest even after 65 years of independence. The
literacy rate in Balochistan is 29.8 per cent, only 10 per cent women are
literate. The rate of unemployment is horrible. Punjab has 111 vocational
centres for women while Balochistan has only one. Balochistan remained
under federal government control, 60% of provincial appointments are filled
by central government. The provincial government of Balochistan cannot
appoint its own chief secretary. In 200 federal corporations Balochistan has
no representation. The 700 employees of President and Prime Minister
Houses are non-Baloch. All directors of PIA board are non-Baloch. All
ambassadors of Pakistan belong to Punjab, Sindh and KPK. These are ground
realities. People of Balochistan feel that their province has been treated as a
colony. Their natural resources are being looted and plundered.
The present democratic government took certain initiatives to efface the
feelings of frustration and deprivation of Baloch people. In the 18th
constitutional amendment, passed by the parliament in 2010, greater
provincial autonomy and first right of the provinces over their natural
resources were guaranteed. The federal government announced Aghaz-eHaqooq-e-Balochistan package. Under this packages almost 10,000 Baloch
youths were absorbed in the armed forces of Pakistan. The media team of
government is inefficient, incapable and unable to motivate the Baloch youth
in view of these strong and positive moves.
The provincial government of Balochistan continuously failed to maintain law
and order. Abduction and target killing incidents are rampant. According to
the security report of Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies, Islamabad, 386
people were killed and 1070 were injured in 792 attacks in 2009. The
number of missing people increased up to 1200 as reported in the media.
The Supreme Court is hearing the case of missing persons. As observed by
the chief justice of Pakistan, FC and secret agencies are involved but the
agencies contradict these charges. The representatives of elected political
parties in the Balochistan Assembly have joined the coalition government
and there is no opposition in provincial assembly to safeguard the interests
of the people. Several players are involved in Balochistan conflicts. The
international players are indirectly supporting the separatists for their longterm vested interests. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) is fighting the
war of independence without realising that if they succeed to liberate
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Balochistan from Pakistan, they will not be able to secure their independence
from international powers. The Baloch Students Organisation (BSO) is
supporting BLA. The armed forces of Pakistan are trying to keep Pakistan
united, but history teaches us country cannot be kept united by use of force.
The justice and equal opportunities for all only can safeguard the unity of the
country.
The natural players of the province are nationalist parties which include
National Party, Baloch National Party (Mengal), Baloch National Party
(Awami), Jamhoori Watan Party (Aali), Jamhoori Watan Party (Talal). These
nationalist parties demand greater autonomy and provincial control over
natural resources under the Constitution of Pakistan. Unfortunately, the
nationalist parties boycotted 2008 elections and remained isolated. PPP,
PML(N), PML(Q) and JUI(F) are federal political parties. The players of
Balochistan are divided and unable to evolve consensus solution.
The federal government must open meaningful talks with real leaders of
Balochistan instead of fake leaders produced by the agencies. Confidence
building means are required to defuse the situation. Development and
dialogue is the best option. Army should be withdrawn. NFC Award and
Haqooq-e-Balochistan should be urgently implemented. All missing persons
be released. Employment opportunities should be created to satisfy
unemployed youth. Huge investment in small and medium scale industries
can provide employment opportunities. Human resource development
centres be established at Union Council level. The federal and provincial
governments should provide sufficient funds for education and healthcare
sectors. All the players of Balochistan must understand that Pakistan and
Balochistan have no future at all if they are separated. The solution based on
justice and fair play is the only option for Balochistan problem.
The writer is a renowned columnist.
Email: [email protected]
Qayyum Nizami
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Balochistan Problem a Way Out

The situation in Balochistan is comparable, at least in terms of grievances, to that of
East Pakistan in 1968-9
UNREST in BALOCHISTAN
Friday, October 01, 2010

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Introduction
News about a new and extended military operation in Balochistan has started
circulating in the past few weeks. While this would not be a new scenario as far as
history of Balochistan is concerned, the need for adopting a reconciliatory approach
towards Balochistan is now being felt more than ever.
Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan comprising nearly 44% of the
countrys landmass and is, by far, the richest one in terms of natural resources. But
today, Balochistan is most underdeveloped and poverty-stricken province where
even the most basic infrastructure has not been built and people do not have
access to the very basic immunities of life.
The native people of Balochistan, numbered around eight million, have, for years,
been complaining of marginalization. Law and order situation is worse than the
worst possible and many a youth is now playing in the hands of those who want to
destabilize Pakistan. Popular leadership is alienated and people of Balochistan are
least integrated with the rest of the country.
If we are asked to define national integration, it would be something like, the will
of people to live together that comes from common destiny and interwoven
cultures, regional languages, traditions, ideals, history, religion, customs, and right
to equitable share in physical resources with privilege of decision-making in
economic, political, and social matters of a nation-state.
If we analyze this definition in the wake of situation in Balochistan, most would
agree that the situation is not extremely grave as far as first half of this definition is
concerned. But there are some serious reservations as to the right to equitable
share and privilege of decision-making in economic, political, and social matters.
How and why have we come to such a situation is a sad but complex tale?
The Balochistan problem is essentially a struggle for provincial rights.
They revolted against the overdeveloped federal state structure and
demanded more provincial autonomy.
Dimensions of the Balochistan Issue
The Balochistan problem is essentially a struggle for provincial rights. They revolted
against the overdeveloped federal state structure and demanded more provincial
autonomy. Rather than its rich natural resources, Balochistan is characterized by
economic backwardness, lack of development and non-availability of basic facilities
of life.
Balochistan has been a focus of trouble in the past but the recent episode is the
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most grave of the all. The 2006 killing of Akbar Bugti at that time the motive
figurehead of politics in Balochistan in a firefight with the security forces gave the
current wave of secessionists a hero to latch onto.
Since then the situation in balochistan is out of control. National infrastructure is
targeted routinely and the incidents of target killings of academia and intelligentsia
belonging to other provinces, especially Punjab, have risen at an alarming rate.
The growing hub of Gwadar, which has been hailed as a special economic zone, is
not only a focal point of strategic interests of many global and regional powers in
Southwest Asia, but also a grave concern and source of contention for the natives
of Balochistan as they feel being marginalized in the development of this project as
in other mega projects going on in the province.
Balochistan has been an area of special interest for regional and global powers
owing to its key strategic position. Every effort made at mass development in this
area met with covert resistance from hostile competitors present in the region. The
latest insurgency too coincided with the work on mega project of Gwadar port.
And lastly, the security agencies of the country see this entire situation in security
perspective. While focusing on covert activities of hostile actors in the region, the
economic, political and social grievances of the people have been largely ignored.
Consequently, the angry youth of Balochistan fell an easy prey to the nefarious
designs of our enemies. Thus the situation has grown complex and requires a
holistic approach in order to be improved.
Recent Efforts Made by the Federal Government
It was in this context that the need for adopting a conciliatory approach towards
Balochistan was strongly felt. As opposed to the military-action policy of Gen.
Pervez Musharraf, a political solution to the Balochistan problem in the form of
Aaghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan Package was hailed as a fresh breath to the ailing
people of Balochistan.
It was expected to mitigate their sufferings and redress their grievances. Though
Baloch sardars and other nationalist leaders expressed their reservations about the
package, the government and other leading political activists of the country
cherished it as a positive step towards the peaceful resolution and redressal of the
grievances of the people of Balochistan.
Balochistan Package tried to address many issues including the very contentious
ones as well. It aimed at reviewing the role of Federal agencies operating in
Balochistan and withdrawing army from Sui as well as deferring the proposed
construction of cantonments in various parts of the province.
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It envisaged limiting the powers of Frontier Corps and removing the various checkposts established by FC and Coast Guards away from the border areas of the
province. It tried to address the highly contentious issue of missing persons and
setting-up of a judicial inquiry commission to probe the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti
and the murders of three Baloch nationalist leaders in Turbat.
The Balochistan Package also tried to redress economic grievances by providing for
different aid packages and creating more employment opportunities for the youth
of Balochistan. Various arrears amounts due on federal government were promised
to be released and the share of Balochistan government in various mega projects
was hinted to be enhanced.
It tried to create stakes of the province in the mega projects of Gwadar. The
provincial government and legislature were promised a lot of powers and
representation in Gwadar port and development authority.
The Package also hinted upon starting dialogue with the alienated Baloch
nationalist leadership. It indicated a conditional return of exiled leadership back to
the country. On the constitutional level, it promised provincial autonomy, and
restructuring of NFC Award to include backwardness, poverty, resource generation,
and inverse-population ratio as against the previous criterion of population as sole
determining factor for resource distribution.
This new development has led to the intensification of the Great Game
being played here in this region of which Balochistan is a part.
Why Govt. Efforts Failed
Since its announcement, the Package had to face several challenges. The first and
fore-most issue was its implementation in the wake of civil-military relations in
Pakistan. While this package had been formulated by some sagacious brains of the
nation and through a consensus of nearly all major political parties, still the
impression that the military establishment was not taken on board was soon
strongly felt.
This was and is the most significant reason of stalling of the promises made in this
package. Secondly, the provincial political setup was and is not truly representative
as popular political parties of Balochistan as they had boycotted the previous
elections and they are still not part of the system at this critical stage.
Thirdly, the situation demanded a better effort in terms of aid packages announced,
especially after the second year of worst floods in the province. Even the promises
made were not fulfilled.
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Moreover, there is a big question mark over the degree to which autonomy would
be given to the provinces. Certain provisions have been made in the 18th
amendment but the demands, especially from Balochistan, are now much beyond
those provisions. And lastly, there is a question of bringing the alienated and
rebellious nationalist leadership back into the mainstream politics over which this
package failed to play any part.
The federal government will have to restore the confidence of people in
its authority through some confidence building measures.
Current Scenario
Most of the leaders of Balochistan outrightly rejected this package expressing their
reservations over its implementation. Two years after the package was announced,
it can not be denied that those reservations were not entirely baseless. Apart from
some cosmetic gestures, the government failed to move towards the
implementation of this package.
The so far apparent failure of this package has made it crystal clear where the
actual power lies as far as the statecraft in Pakistan is concerned. The political
paralysis in dealing with this remote restive province is another manifestation of the
power the military holds over the countrys weak civilian governments.
The fact that the more vibrant as well as violent part of the political leadership of
Balochistan rejected this package whereas the establishment is not willing to
implement even the provisions made in this package, makes the situation more
complex.
At the same time, in a larger view, the situation in this region has grown more tense
in the wake of a withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. This new
development has led to the intensification of the Great Game being played here in
this region of which Balochistan is a part.
Thus one thing is clear that the situation in Balochistan is complex and chaotic and
we can not have a straightforward and simple solution of this situation. Then do we
need a new social contract to cater the growing urge of dismemberment in the
people of Balochistan?
Here, one is reminded of the famous-cum-notorious six points Sheikh Mujeeb. The
situation in Balochistan is comparable, at least in terms of grievances, to that of
East Pakistan in 1968-9. A new military operation at this stage, like the one was
done in Bengal in 1971, may further aggravate the situation.

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Four decades later, most analysts would agree that a contract on the basis of those
six points (one or two less) would have at least delayed the dismemberment of East
Pakistan, if not prevented for good as more optimists would argue. Thus the need of
the hour is an out of the box thinking among the ruling elite of Pakistan.
The Way Out
The way out of this situation demands that we should learn from history. The
Balochistan problem must no more be seen in the security perspective only. Focus
must be shifted on its strong political and social elements.
Unfortunately this has been a culture in Pakistan that all legitimate political
movements against injustice have been labeled as foreign machinations and
leaders of those movements have been called traitors and agents.
Even the credibility of lawyers movement for the restoration of judiciary was
questioned. This culture must end and the dissenting people should be seen as
patriotic as any other section of the society.
The federal government will have to restore the confidence of people in its
authority through some confidence building measures. These CBMs should include
a maximum possible withdrawal of a chunk of troops from the settled areas.
Better efforts to rehabilitate the displaced people to their homes would help
improve the image of government. Then a broader political amnesty to all those
who lay down their arms, like Gen. Rahimuddin did in the era of Gen. Zia ul Haq,
can bring back a large portion of secessionist leadership.
Another CBM can be the introduction of dual citizenship as is present in many
countries including US and Canada. This would effectively remove the danger of
ethnic disturbance resulting from realization of mega projects.
Through these CBMs, we should create an environment to move towards a stable
solution of this problem. It would be a political solution that grants the province
greater autonomy and control over its resources.
Meaningful development can only occur if there is political empowerment, adequate
healthcare, educational and employment opportunities. Unfortunately these areas
have been largely ignored in the past.
Political and economic empowerment will bring positive social changes not only in
the lives of people of Balochistan but also in their views about the federal
government and its agencies. We should remember that it is the will of people to
live together that provides for national integration and smooth functioning of
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federal structure of government. May God provide our leadership with the wisdom
and right direction.
Dr Waheed Asghar (CSP)

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