FOR all the government’s reconciliatory gestures towards the embittered province of Balochistan, it is amply clear that nationalist forces have not been mollified as the recent spate of attacks on railway tracks and military intelligence personnel demonstrates. The latest incident occurred on Tuesday when two MI men were killed in Khuzdar, with the Balochistan Liberation Army claiming responsibility. Indeed, anger and frustration in Balochistan will only grow if the government fails to act on its pledge of giving political autonomy to the province and rectifying its population’s socio-economic grievances soon. It is not enough for the Baloch to see a change of rulers in their province; they now expect quick action on the part of a seemingly sympathetic government to put it on the track of economic development and greater political sovereignty.
True, the new government has taken some positive steps towards alleviating Baloch woes, especially with reference to the withdrawal of cases against Baloch leader Akhtar Mengal and calling for an All Parties Conference. But while such actions might mark the beginnings of a comprehensive solution to the Balochistan situation, far more needs to be done lest they are seen as merely token gestures. For starters, the issue of Balochistan’s numerous missing people, allegedly whisked away by the intelligence, needs to be pursued urgently. Also, the presence of the military in the restive province needs to be restricted as this is at the root of the political crisis. The speedy rehabilitation of those who have been displaced — and they number in the thousands — on account of the army action is also a pressing matter. Issues like the restoration of the judiciary should not be an excuse for the government to shelve its plans for Balochistan. It must show the will to act now and the gumption to stand up to those elements — like the military — that prefer the status quo to the curtailment of their interests.
http://www.dawn.com/2008/05/01/ed.htm#3 |
