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By: AIR MARSHAL (RETD) AYAZ AHMED KHAN
Past federal policy of adhocism, neglect and appeasement coupled with lethargy of provincial and district administrations towards the common man and submission to the Sardars is the cause of the present chaos in Baluchistan. Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the only head of government with a clear vision of the subversive activities of Baloch Sardars, and had a defined policy of ending Sardarism and exploitation of the common Balochi.
Bhutto had directly come up against the intransigent and rebellious ways of the Sardars in Baluchistan, when he wanted to build roads, schools and hospitals in areas where the Sardars exercised influence. The National Assembly of Pakistan passed the System of Sardari (Abolition) Act in 1976, which prescribed punishment of three years imprisonment for anyone exercising any right of Sardari, of being in "possession of, or drive any benefit from any land belonging to a tribe."
This law stated that, "The Sardari system is the worst remnant of the oppressive, tyrannical, feudal and tribal system, which being derogatory to human dignity and freedom, is repugnant to the spirit of democracy and equality as enunciated by Islam, and is enshrined in the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It is a system opposed to the economic and cultural advancement of the people."
From the very outset, ZAB had to confront the frontline Sardars. Marri, who with Moscow’s connivance had armed and equipped a large lashkar to challenge the government, was engaged in subversive activities at the behest of a foreign power. He organised the shadowy Baloch Liberation Army, presently engaged in attacks and sabotage. Fighters of Mengal and Bugti tribes have lately joined its ranks. The BLA is well armed and trained in guerrilla warfare. Not a single war lord has condemned BLA’s attacks.
The Sardars have led four insurgencies - in 1948, 1958-59, 1962-63 and 1973-77. Now the fifth insurgency is underway by a better organised and equipped Baloch Liberation (guerrilla) Army, which has several training camps, is well equipped with offensive weapons and communications, and also has it own web sites. The BLA web site indulges in vicious propaganda against the country, the Army, Punjab and narrates grievances on a daily basis.
The mentors of this guerrilla force are Marri, Bugti, and Mengal warlords who have been alleging that "Baloch people feel that they wonâ?Tt get their rights through democratic and legal means... We will use the gun to get our rights!"
During the British rule, the ancestors of the present sardars were submissive tamundars, receiving paltry stipends. Their agreements with the British reveal how the Khan of Kalat, the Jams of Lasbela, the Bugti and the Marri tumandars had sold bits and pieces of Balochistan to the British for very small amounts. Sardar Mehrullah Khan Marri executed an agreement on October 24, 1885 with the British government ceding for Rs 300 to the said government in perpetuity the exclusive rights of all petroleum or other mineral oil, which may be found at Kahan, or in any other part of the Marri country, with full liberty to extract and remove it as it may deem fit.
An Agreement with the Jam of Bela, dated 21st December 1861 States, "Jam Meer Khan of Lasbela... for a sum of Rs 10,000 yearly paid by the Political Agent of Khelat permits setting up of telegraph lines with the stipulation that obstruction or injury to the telegraph line may cause revocation of this agreement at any time". An Agreement entered by the Khan of Kalat Mir Khudadad Khan executed at the Dasht Plain on June 8, 1883 on behalf of himself and his heirs and successors," hereby makes over and entrusts the entire management of the Quetta district and Niabat absolutely and with all the rights and privileges as well as full revenue, civil and criminal jurisdiction, with effect form 1st April 1893, for an annual payment of Rs 25000 (Rs 2000 per month). The Bugti Sardars accepted an annual allowance of Rs 5520 for good behaviour and maintaining peace."
Baluch Sardars were submissive to the British but became trouble makers, and have continued to fuel unrest, indulge in defiance and provoke insurgencies since the creation of Pakistan. It is about time that firm political action is taken to stop it.
Unfortunately after August 1947, there was political vacuum in Baluchistan, and the local rulers and Sardars started breakaway movements. Pakistan should have dealt with them the way India dealt with the 565 Rajas and Maharajas. New Delhi had a clear policy. India gave primacy to the rights of the people and deprived the state rulers and jagirdars of power, authority and privilages given by he British. But the Pakistani rulers and bureaucrats did not have the imagination and the courage to formulate a pro-people policy in Baluchistan. ZAB took steps to neutralise the Sardars, but Ziaul Haq sabotaged and reversed Bhutto’s policy and initiated a policy of appeasement and bribes.
The federal and even the provincial government followed a meek policy of appeasement. They deemed it advisable to leave the Sardars alone. To pay them large bribes to ensure that they desist from causing trouble. This emboldened the Sardars, who were convinced that the politicians, bureaucrats and rulers are unscrupulous and could be blackmailed.
Overtime, the sardars have become adept at blackmailing the administration and exploiting the common people. Pakistani politicians and the government must share the blame for turning meek Tamundars into Sardars, and now into warlords.
Today they are fully armed warlords, able to challenge the writ of the state with well equipped lashkars, backed by the shady Baluchistan Liberation Army. They are colluding with BLA’s destructive activities and possibly funding it. They wield great influence, power and respect in Balochistan.
After the January 11, 2005 massive rocketing of PPL installations and pipe lines in Sui which killed 15 security personnel and caused billions of rupees of damage, infuriated President Musharraf angrily said, "Donâ?Tt push us, this isnâ?Tt the 1970’s when you can hit and run and hide in the mountains. This time you wonâ?Tt even know what hit you." Attaullah Mengal immediately warned that,» In case of military operations the Baloch people will fight a decisive battle." Akbar Bugti declared that sixty thousand armed Bugtis will pitch battle. Baloch war lords are using language similar to the war lords in Afghanistan.
One Unit enhanced the power of the sardars, because in Baluchistan the people voted for ethnic and tribal considerations. It stoked the Mengal, Marri and Bugti Sardars into rejecting dictation from Islamabad or even from Quetta. Large funds paid to the big sardars were spent on weapons and training camps. Mr. Marri had actively indulged in the spread of Marxism and Leninism in the Marri tribe.
The 1970 Marri insurgency occurred at a time when the former Soviet Union was inspiring nationalists and subverting the Marri tribesmen in Baluchistan. Afghanistan was providing shelter to Baluch and Pushtun nationalists and pro-Moscow communists during the course of the Marri uprising. Mr. Marri was the first Soviet sponsored Sardar turned warlord.
On June 29, 1947 the leaders of British Baluchistan decided to merge Baluchistan with Pakistan. The old Khan of Kalat however announced independence. He organized elections to the 52 member lower house of the Kalat Assembly. It was on the floor of the Kalat Assembly in Decemebr 1947 that 29 year old Aligarh educated Ghaus Bux Bizenjo declared, "We have a distinct culture like Afghanistan and Iran, and if the mere fact that we are Muslims requires us to amalgamate with Pakistan, then Iran and Afghanistan should also amalgamate with Pakistan. Pakistan should treat us as sovereign people, only then we are ready to extend friendship. But if Pakistan will not do so, then every Baluch will fight for freedom."
Bizenjo, Marri and Attaullah Mengal had no interest in the Pakistan movement, or in the sacrifices of the Muslims of South Asia. Now that the Soviet Union has disappeared, they better rethink their loyalties.
The situation in Baluchistan is explosive. A long-term policy is required to redress the grievances of the common man. Instead of giving billions as stipends to the rebellious Sardars, the huge funds should benefit the common man who is poverty stricken and powerless. The power of the Sardars must be broken, by stopping their salaries, stipends and rewards. Their private jails be closed and their jagirs and estates be distributed to landless, and the un-employed. Mega projects must continue, and hundreds of thousands of jobless Baloch youth be absorbed in these projects. Balochistan must be the primary and major beneficiary of the mega projects and the gas and mineral wealth of Balochistan.
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/mar-2005/9/columns5.php | 
