Balochistan: A political solution
Courtesy:- Dr Raja Muhammad Khan
Taking history as evidence, one learns that, wars, conflicts and disagreements have never resolved the global, regional and domestic issues. These rather have further complicated the problems, created hate and more fissures among the competing parties and forces. Political solution, remedy of grievances and negotiations among the disagreeing parties is the only way forward. Balochistan is a domestic problem of Pakistan, where there have been many snags over the years, owing to many grounds. Irrespective of the raison d’être of the problem(s), there is a dire need that, a solution has to be found of all these within the federation and under the constitution of Pakistan through political and peaceful ways. In this regard, negotiation, rather confrontation and rebellion is the best and only way forward.
In the same milieu, the Army Chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, said in a recent statement that, “The Army fully supports any political process (in Balochistan), as long as it is within the constitution of Pakistan.” Surely, the sovereignty, integrity and supremacy of Pakistan and its constitution has to form the basis in this regard for an amicable solution of the Balochistan doldrums. Many political analysts linked the statement of Pak Army Chief as an indirect response of the six points charter, given to Supreme Court of Pakistan by the former Chief Minister, Mr Akhtar Mengal in late September 2012. This may not be correct, as in the past too, General Kayani emphasized on the political solution of Balochistan. He discontinued military operations in Balochistan in 2010 and even withdrew the already approved plans for the new cantonments in various parts of the province.
Thus, for those even having an iota about the military operations in the province should have clarity now. It is only the Frontier Corps, under the provincial Government of Balochistan that take care of the security aspects in the province. FC is very careful about its handling of the situation in the province. Thus, there should be no reservations of by anyone about the military operation in Balochistan. Death squads, as highlighted by Mr Mengal in SC, are perhaps an exaggeration, having no linkages with reality on ground. Alas! Mr Mengal could have dared to visit his hometown t see things personally.
Regarding his second point, allowing political parties of the provinces “to function and resume their political activities without interference from intelligence agencies” Mr Mengal should have at least assessed and analysed realistically before spelling out this part of his statement. Are the current politicians of province sitting in PA and NA product of agencies? For God sake, what good they are delivering the nation, province or agencies. Please Mr Mengal do not befool the masses on this issue, rather contest the forthcoming elections, while being in your native town, situation will be clear. About the next point, yes, anyone found, “responsible for inhuman torture, killing and dumping of bodies of Baloch political leaders and activists” should be brought to justice.” Already SC is doing a lot on the issue and everyone expect a justice. Rehabilitation of the displaced Baloch masses needs an immediate measures by provincial and Federal Government, again a valid demand. Even if he has tried to, in no way, Mr Akhtar Mengal’s points should not be compared with the Six Points of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman. Mr Mengal is a loyal Pakistani, betrayed somehow. Media analysts, politicians and scholars needs to be very careful, while carrying out debate on this points.
The political leadership of Pakistan and military as a state institution have already decided in May 2012, in a joint security meeting on Balochistan that, the issue needs a political tackling and there is a need to get serious about the situation in the province. Whereas, the FC and intelligence agencies totally deny their involvement in the case of missing persons and killing of the Baloch masses, we need to analyse the global conspiracies against the Province and the country.
Just imagine, who would be the beneficiary of these killings; FC and intelligence agencies or the external element, determined to destabilize Pakistan. Whereas, the employment and deployment of FC Balochistan is on the discretion of the Chief Minister of the province, we have to see, whether the incumbent CM is capable of doing that in the best national interest of Pakistan and the Province. His mental state and stability mostly remains questionable and who would guarantee that this force would not be use against the political opponents of the CM in the tribal society of Balochistan. Those at the helm of affairs must ensure timely decisions and implementations, but there is requirement of the maturity of the decisions too.
At the level of Government; Provincial as well as Federal, just allotment of funds and formulation of committees and commissions would not resolve the problem. Nevertheless, the implementation on ground would really matter a lot. An indiscriminate socio-economic development of the province in this regard would play a major role. There is a need that representatives of the federal and provincial governments along with responsible bureaucracy must visit the province physically to know the real problems and to address their grievances on spot. These visits should not be restricted to Quetta and to meet the political allies, but meant to reach over to those aggrieved parties, irrespective of political affiliation.
In order to bring peace and stability in the province, there is a need of an immediate action plan by the Government. Rather a blame-game, the situation warrants a consensus political solution. Whereas, the diplomacy must play its part in dismantling the terrorists’ camps, established in Afghanistan or elsewhere, all political leadership must sit together and resolve the issue to avoid further aggravation of the situation, which create misperception and allow the foreign forces to exploit the situation to implement their long-term agenda against the state of Pakistan.
Taking history as evidence, one learns that, wars, conflicts and disagreements have never resolved the global, regional and domestic issues. These rather have further complicated the problems, created hate and more fissures among the competing parties and forces. Political solution, remedy of grievances and negotiations among the disagreeing parties is the only way forward. Balochistan is a domestic problem of Pakistan, where there have been many snags over the years, owing to many grounds. Irrespective of the raison d’être of the problem(s), there is a dire need that, a solution has to be found of all these within the federation and under the constitution of Pakistan through political and peaceful ways. In this regard, negotiation, rather confrontation and rebellion is the best and only way forward.
In the same milieu, the Army Chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, said in a recent statement that, “The Army fully supports any political process (in Balochistan), as long as it is within the constitution of Pakistan.” Surely, the sovereignty, integrity and supremacy of Pakistan and its constitution has to form the basis in this regard for an amicable solution of the Balochistan doldrums. Many political analysts linked the statement of Pak Army Chief as an indirect response of the six points charter, given to Supreme Court of Pakistan by the former Chief Minister, Mr Akhtar Mengal in late September 2012. This may not be correct, as in the past too, General Kayani emphasized on the political solution of Balochistan. He discontinued military operations in Balochistan in 2010 and even withdrew the already approved plans for the new cantonments in various parts of the province.
Thus, for those even having an iota about the military operations in the province should have clarity now. It is only the Frontier Corps, under the provincial Government of Balochistan that take care of the security aspects in the province. FC is very careful about its handling of the situation in the province. Thus, there should be no reservations of by anyone about the military operation in Balochistan. Death squads, as highlighted by Mr Mengal in SC, are perhaps an exaggeration, having no linkages with reality on ground. Alas! Mr Mengal could have dared to visit his hometown t see things personally.
Regarding his second point, allowing political parties of the provinces “to function and resume their political activities without interference from intelligence agencies” Mr Mengal should have at least assessed and analysed realistically before spelling out this part of his statement. Are the current politicians of province sitting in PA and NA product of agencies? For God sake, what good they are delivering the nation, province or agencies. Please Mr Mengal do not befool the masses on this issue, rather contest the forthcoming elections, while being in your native town, situation will be clear. About the next point, yes, anyone found, “responsible for inhuman torture, killing and dumping of bodies of Baloch political leaders and activists” should be brought to justice.” Already SC is doing a lot on the issue and everyone expect a justice. Rehabilitation of the displaced Baloch masses needs an immediate measures by provincial and Federal Government, again a valid demand. Even if he has tried to, in no way, Mr Akhtar Mengal’s points should not be compared with the Six Points of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman. Mr Mengal is a loyal Pakistani, betrayed somehow. Media analysts, politicians and scholars needs to be very careful, while carrying out debate on this points.
The political leadership of Pakistan and military as a state institution have already decided in May 2012, in a joint security meeting on Balochistan that, the issue needs a political tackling and there is a need to get serious about the situation in the province. Whereas, the FC and intelligence agencies totally deny their involvement in the case of missing persons and killing of the Baloch masses, we need to analyse the global conspiracies against the Province and the country.
Just imagine, who would be the beneficiary of these killings; FC and intelligence agencies or the external element, determined to destabilize Pakistan. Whereas, the employment and deployment of FC Balochistan is on the discretion of the Chief Minister of the province, we have to see, whether the incumbent CM is capable of doing that in the best national interest of Pakistan and the Province. His mental state and stability mostly remains questionable and who would guarantee that this force would not be use against the political opponents of the CM in the tribal society of Balochistan. Those at the helm of affairs must ensure timely decisions and implementations, but there is requirement of the maturity of the decisions too.
At the level of Government; Provincial as well as Federal, just allotment of funds and formulation of committees and commissions would not resolve the problem. Nevertheless, the implementation on ground would really matter a lot. An indiscriminate socio-economic development of the province in this regard would play a major role. There is a need that representatives of the federal and provincial governments along with responsible bureaucracy must visit the province physically to know the real problems and to address their grievances on spot. These visits should not be restricted to Quetta and to meet the political allies, but meant to reach over to those aggrieved parties, irrespective of political affiliation.
In order to bring peace and stability in the province, there is a need of an immediate action plan by the Government. Rather a blame-game, the situation warrants a consensus political solution. Whereas, the diplomacy must play its part in dismantling the terrorists’ camps, established in Afghanistan or elsewhere, all political leadership must sit together and resolve the issue to avoid further aggravation of the situation, which create misperception and allow the foreign forces to exploit the situation to implement their long-term agenda against the state of Pakistan.
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