By Professor Mukhtar Ali Naqvi
Orlando, Fl
News of rocket attacks in several areas has been coming in for the last three years. The responsibility for these attacks has been claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army, an organization of unknown origin. It seems that some subversive elements are operating under a fictitious name. They are faceless people getting arms and financial help from some source.
It was only about three months back that the situation was aggravated with the stand-off in Dera Bugti. The subversive elements got more active and gas pipelines, railway tracks, power houses, and many other installations became the target of attack. The tribal leaders denied any collusion with the subversive elements but faithfully avoided to condemn them. In almost all cases, it was the local population that suffered. Many locals lost their life but not a word of sympathy was expressed by the tribal leaders.
On the contrary, various demands were raised by the tribal leaders which could serve as a ’fair deal’ to the people of Balochistan: there were complaints that the province has been neglected in the past and was lagging behind other parts of the country. Surprisingly, the present developmental effort in the province also came under harsh criticism. Plans to build roads, improve other means of communication and development of the Gwadar port which will bring about a revolutionary change in the economy of the province, were censured with little compunction. Many tribal leaders said plainly that current developmental plans were meant to reduce the Baloch population into a minority!
Airing their views in TV interviews the tribal leaders unabashedly referred to the secession of East Pakistan and drew a parallel between the 1971 tragedy and the current Balochistan situation. A former chief minister who happens to be the son of a tribal leader said in a public speech that the freedom loving people have an opportunity to get freedom and are inclined not to lose it.
The demands for a ’fair deal’ are put forth not by elected leaders but tribal chiefs who have a poor record of serving members of their tribe. Their objective has been to perpetuate their hold on the people and their opposition to the development plans stems from the apprehension that employment opportunities and consequent change will liberate people from their bondage.
Despite the provocative attitude of tribal leaders the government has stuck to a conciliatory stance and a parliamentary committee is trying to resolve the crisis. Many of the tribal leaders have refused to cooperate with the committee. As the recommendations of the parliamentary committee were awaited the case of the rape of a lady doctor was unduly played up. It was, of course, a despicable criminal act but such cases are not uncommon in Pakistan. People were justified in thinking that the tribal leaders did not have any sympathy with the victim and were only exploiting the case to inflame public opinion to their political advantage.
Since the situation in the province has been the subject of discussion in the country, the news media has presented views of all shades of opinion. Many interviewees belonging to the same tribe exposed the tribal leaders. They gave first-hand information about how t people are oppressed and how despicable methods are used to keep them in bondage. The details of captivity in private jails are simply harrowing. The leaders are running a parallel government and consider themselves to be above the law.
The government is making all-out efforts to keep the status quo and tries to treat the symptoms not the disease itself from the current crisis. No one should dispute the necessity of redressing the genuine grievances of the Baloch people but the development plans must continue and be implemented with renewed momentum.
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