NO one expected that with the installation of a government representative of the people of Balochistan, the problems of the province would simply vanish. Their feeling of alienation from the rest of the country, having been left out in the race for development, is deep-seated and has a ring of genuineness. The mega projects that the previous government launched were overlaid with corrupt practices that favoured privileged sections of society, mainly from outside Balochistan, which reinforced the sense of neglect and discrimination of the local population.
There is, therefore, little justification for anyone to raise eyebrows at their vow to continue to struggle for their rights as some speakers at a protest rally there made on Wednesday. Rather, the government should lose no time in instituting steps to redress the situation in consultation with the people concerned. One complaint they have voiced is that nothing has been done to remove the ill effects of the nuclear fall-out of the explosions conducted in May 1998. There should be an immediate study to know whether the nuclear tests had affected the health of the people in the area. There ought to have been proper arrangement for medical attention and due compensation for any such people. Necessary amends must be made to remove this serious grievance.
The authorities must pay heed to the offer of Balochistan National Party (Mengal) Chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal to negotiate to bring peace and tranquility to the province. Somehow, armed action in the province continues in one form or the other. Clashes took place on Wednesday between security forces and militants when the latter reportedly fired rockets and heavy weapons on a check post in the Dera Bugti area, though fortunately there was no casualty. However, in other two incidents in Quetta, four persons, including an army man, were killed when unknown persons opened fire. Besides, four members of a family were injured in a grenade attack on a house. Similar incidents and acts of sabotage have been occurring in some parts of the province. One hopes that the new government would take stock of the situation and adopt suitable measures to bring this underdeveloped federating unit to the level of the relatively more developed provinces of the country.
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Opinions/Editorials/30-May-2008/Balochistan-situation
|
