THE federal government’s bid to window-dress the Balochistan issue met with failure when JWP Chief Mr. Akbar Bugti, in his meeting with a six-member ARD delegation on Friday, rejected the reforms package recommended by the Parliamentary Committee on Balochistan only three days after Ch Shujaat Hussain had presented it before the National Assembly.
As the ARD team, headed by Makhdoom Amin Fahim, demanded a judicial inquiry into the March 17 armed clash between FC personnel and Bugti tribesmen, Nawab Bugti called for drastic changes in the 1973 Constitution to ensure autonomy to the federating units. But one might tend to differ with his demand for framing a new constitution.
There are valid reasons for opposing this outlandish idea. Notwithstanding the Bugti,s reservations about the 1973 Constitution, which he claimed he had expressed while he was Governor Balochistan, the fact remains it is a consensus document endorsed by all major political parties of the country. This is not to say it cannot be amended. But flaws in it with regard to provincial autonomy, if any, can only be identified by putting it to the test: since its adoption 32 years ago the successive governments, both military and civilians, never tried to enforce it in letter and in spirit.
The way the government is casually dealing with the Balochistan situation raises more questions than it answers. The presence of over 16000 troops in Dera Bugti and Sui makes the Baloch rightly fear that a military operation can be launched anytime in the province. It also creates doubts about government’s sincerity in implementing the Parliamentary Committee’s recommendations one of which was about withdrawal of the FC and coastal guards from the province.
Can it now make sure its other proposals are implemented? It is not clear who and what prevents the government from getting the proposed reforms approved by the Parliament. This reminds the nation of Ch Shujaat’s earlier observation that ’certain elements’ did not want the Balochistan Committee to succeed because that could signify the supremacy of parliament.
But then why does he keep playing second fiddle to the Establishment? He failed to convince the powers that be that political crises can only be resolved through political means, not through coercion: the writ of the state must be based on consent, not commanded by force.
As Mr. Bugti can be advised to give up his maximalist position, the government should also realize that by constantly overlooking the genuine concerns of the Baloch it might be pushing Balochistan deeper into a quagmire. It must not ignore that it is not only the opposition but also the leaders of the ruling coalition who have started taking swipes at it for allowing Balochistan situation to deteriorate. The government cannot ignore that political stability at home would be an inevitable prelude to peace with India.
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/may-2005/8/editorials2.php
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