Re: Nawaz vows to resolve Balochistan issue
Watch 1:30 onwards… Mush says “anyone who does not believe in parliament does not believe in Pakistan … and anyone who does not believe in Pakistan should be pushed to the wall”… ummmmmm, ironic, much?
Re: Nawaz vows to resolve Balochistan issue
I have some baloch people in my extended family and man they are so passionate about pakistan!
Ali, Efforts were made to free baloch people from keeping their own sardars who had camps. But these sardars resisted. Killing bugti was a bad call no doubt but Bugti never really wanted his area to develop and his people educated.. otherwise how else could the most resourceful province of pakistan stay most under developed?
All is not lost I believe and if serious efforts were to be made, i am sure majority of balochis will welcome any concrete effort by governments with open arms.
This is another political promise by a confused PML-N to regain lost ground.
Re: Nawaz vows to resolve Balochistan issue
The problem is that now during the past ten years the war in balochistan is going on, so how much development has been carried out there in this period? Now they have driven the sardars from those areas but replaced them with sardars of their own liking. No notable change is there, some very close relatives of mine are bugti and I know they are not safe there in balochistan they are sending their kids to Islamabad, Lahore and elsewhere where they could be safe. This is a political dispute, Pakistan army can try another 10 years and then they will have to talk to them but by that time it would be very late. We have already wasted a lot of time, the sad part of it is that our army did not learn anything after the previous baloch uprising and the Bangladesh issue. If the Americans and Indians are supporting the balochis I don't blame them, why did we create a situation which could be exploited by them?That's another thing that our army has never provided a proof of their involvement as well.
Re: Nawaz vows to resolve Balochistan issue
All is not lost I believe and if serious efforts were to be made, i am sure majority of balochis will welcome any concrete effort by governments.
You are right, but there is no sign of that from the government or the military and that's alarming. Let's believe for a second that army has the upper hand at present then what will be the time when they can negotiate on their own terms?
Re: Nawaz vows to resolve Balochistan issue
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/2011/12/111219_nawaz_atta_meet_fz.shtmlبلوچستان ’پوائنٹ آف نو رٹرن‘ پر پہنچ گیا ہے: مینگل
**بلوچستان کے سینئر قوم پرست رہنما سردار عطااللہ مینگل نے کہا ہے کہ میاں نواز شریف نے انہیں ان کی غلطیاں یاد دلائی ہیں، مگر ماضی میں کی گئی غلطی واپس تو
نہیں کی جاسکتی مگر احتیاط لازمی ہے تاکہ انہیں دوبارہ دہرایا نہ جاسکے۔
**
مسلم لیگ ن کے سربراہ میاں نواز شریف سے ملاقات کے بعد سردار عطااللہ مینگل نے ایک بڑے عرصے کے بعد میڈیا سے کھل کر بات کی۔ سردار عطااللہ نے میاں نواز شریف کے بارے میں کہا کہ
’ آپ اگر اپنی فوج کو لگام دے سکتے ہیں جو مجھے پتہ ہے کہ نہیں دے سکتے اگر دے سکتے تو انہیں اٹھا کر سعودی عرب نہیں پھینک دیتے۔‘
**
اگر یہ فوج کو لگام دے سکتے ہیں اور اس کے عمل سے یہ ثابت کرتے ہیں کہ یہ اس ملک کی فوج ہے ، تو پھر شاید بلوچستان کے لوگوں کے ساتھ کسی کا رابطہ ہوسکے اور کسی کی بات سن سکیں ۔ اگر یہ نہ کرسکے تو آج میں یہ علی الاعلان کہہ دیتا ہوں کہ بلوچستان آپ کے ساتھ نہیں رہے گا۔‘
**
**سردار عطااللہ مینگل کے بیٹے اختر مینگل میاں نواز شریف کے دور میں وزیر اعلیٰ بھی رہے چکے ہیں۔ سردار عطااللہ نے انہیں بتایا کہ بلوچستان کے لوگ ان کی بات سنیں گے اور نہ کسی اور کی، کیونکہ نوجوان یہ فیصلہ کرچکے ہیں کہ وہ ایک ایسے ملک کا حصہ نہیں بنیں گے، جہاں انہیں تحفے میں روز مسخ شدہ لاشیں ملتی ہوں۔
**
**ان کا کہنا تھا کہ اب بھی وقت ہے یہ ذمہ داری میاں نواز شریف اور ان کے ساتھیوں پر عائد ہوتی ہے کہ جتنا جلد ہوسکے، پہلے اس گتھی کو سلجھائیں اس کے بعد بلوچستان کے ان نوجوانوں سے بات کریں جو بلوچستان کے پہا ڑوں پر ہیں۔
**
**بلوچستان نیشنل پارٹی کے سابق سربراہ سردار عطااللہ نے کراچی اور خیبر پختون خواہ میں لوگوں کی ہلاکتوں کا حوالہ دیتے ہوئے کہا کہ یہ بری بات ہے مگر ایک بات سمجھ میں نہیں آتی فوج اس قتل عام پر رد عمل کا اظہار کیوں نہیں کرتی؟ جس طرح سے وہ بلوچستان میں کرتی ہے۔،
**
**ان کے مطابق وہ تسلیم کرتے ہیں کہ بلوچستان میں لوگوں کو صرف پنجابی ہونے کی وجہ سے مارا جاتا ہے، ان میں نائی، دھوبی اور ڈاکٹر شامل ہے۔ انہوں نے اعتراف کیا کہ یہ برا فعل ہے کوئی بھی معاشرہ اس کی اجازت نہیں دیتا اور کوئی شریف آدمی اس کی حوصلہ افزائی نہیں کرے گا۔ مگر انسان تو وہ بھی ایسے ہیں جیسے کراچی والے مرتے ہیں مگر کبھی دیکھا ہے کہ کراچی میں فوج نے غصے میں آکر لوگوں کو اٹھالیا اور ان کی مسخ شدہ لاشیں پھینکیں ہوں ۔
انہوں نے سوال کیا کہ ایسا کیوں نہیں کیا جاتا اس لیے کہ یہ فوج صرف پنجابیوں کی ہلاکتوں پر برا مانتی ہے۔ انہوں نے نواز شریف سے معذرت کے ساتھ کہا کہ یہ پنجاب کی فوج ہے پاکستان کی نہیں، یا پھر وہ پاکستان کا حصہ نہیں ہیں۔ وہ انہیں پاکستانی نہیں سمجھتے اگر نہیں سمجھتے تو ان کو اس پر کوئی اعتراض نہیں ہے۔
**
سردار عطااللہ کے مطابق چار لڑکے اگر اپنی نادانی کا مظاہرے کرکے چار پنجابیوں کو مارتے ہیں برا کرتے ہیں مگر اس کے رد عمل میں جو ہوتا ہے وہ نادانی نہیں ایک سوچے سمجھے منصوبے کے تحت بلوچوں کو مارا جاتا ہے۔ ’مارنے والے کون ہیں یہ کہتے ہیں کہ وہ اس ملک کے محافظ ہیں کیا ملک کی حفاظت اس طرح کی جاتی ہے؟‘
انہوں نے کہا کہ وہ عمر کے اس حصے میں ہیں جہاں انہیں زندگی سے کوئی دلچسپی نہیں ہے اگر تھوڑی سی بھی دلچسپی ہوتی اگر ایک اور شادی یا بیاہ کرنے کا ارادہ ہوتا تو شاید یہ باتیں وہ کھل کر نہ کرتے انہیں بھی کہیں اٹھاکر مسخ شدہ لاشیں پھینک دیتے۔
**
سردار عطااللہ نے میاں نواز شریف سے مخاطب ہوکر کہا کہ اس سارے دھندے نے بلوچستان کو پوائنٹ آف نو رٹرن تک پہنچا دیا ہے، اب وہ کتنا بھی چاہیں، انہیں دلاسا دیں مگر وہ یہ بات جانتے ہیں کہ اب ان کے بس میں کچھ نہیں ہے۔ ’بس میں ان نوجوانوں کے ہے جن کو آج فوج نے پہاڑوں پر بھیج کر باغی کیا ہوا ہے۔‘
**
اس موقعے پر میاں نواز شریف نےسردار عطااللہ کی باتوں کو سچا اور کھرا قرار دیا اور کہا کہ بلوچستان سے ظلم ہوا ہے وہ اس سے اتفاق کرتے ہیں، اب مسلم لیگ ن بلوچستان کا مقدمہ لڑے گی۔
نواز شریف کا کہنا تھا کہ وہ بلوچستان سے محبت کرتے ہیں یہ پاکستان کابہت قیمتی حصہ ہے، جنہوں نے یہ زیادتیاں کی ہیں ان کا محاسبہ ہونا چاہیے دیگر معاملات ٹھیک کرنے کے ساتھ ساتھ وہ ان نوجوانوں سے بھی بات کریں گے جو ان مظالم کے خلاف سراپا احتجاج ہیں۔
نواز شریف نے جنرل پرویز مشرف کے حوالے سے کہا کہ جس نے نواب اکبر بگٹی کو مارا ہے، اگر اس کا احتساب نہیں ہوا تو پھر کس احتساب اور ملکی یکہجتی کی بات کی جارہی ہے۔](بلوچستان ’پوائنٹ آف نو رٹرن‘ پر پہنچ گیا ہے: مینگل - BBC News اردو)
Re: Nawaz vows to resolve Balochistan issue
Due to the atrocities of Pakistan Army in Balochistan, and way the media and the civil society have turned a blind eye to what ever is going on there, I have seen some baloch who used to be very pro Pakistan who now feel they have nothing to do with the country where every day a body is turning up somewhere but no one in Pakistan cares.
Report from Human Rights watch:](http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/HRW_WeCanTortureKillorKeepYouForYears_EnforcedDisappearancesbyPakSecForcesBalochistan.pdf)http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/HRW_WeCanTortureKillorKeepYouForYears_EnforcedDisappearancesbyPakSecForcesBalochistan.pdf
“We Can Torture, Kill, or Keep You for Years”
Enforced Disappearances by Pakistan Security Forces in Balochistan
“Even if the president or chief justice tells us to release you, we won’t. We
can torture you, or kill you, or keep you for years at our will. It is only the
Army chief and the [intelligence] chief that we obey.”
– Pakistani official to Bashir Azeem, the 76-year-old secretary-general of the
Baloch Republican Party, during his unacknowledged detention, April 2010
**“Disappearances of people of Balochistan are the most burning issue in the
country. Due to this issue, the situation in Balochistan is at its worst.”
**
*– Supreme Court Justice Javed Iqbal, commenting on the establishment of
the Commission of Inquiry for Missing Persons on May 4, 2010. *
“One of them pointed his gun at Abdul Nasir and shouted, ‘Get up!’ As
soon as Abdul Nasir got off the ground the man walked him to their car.
Since that time I have not seen Abdul.”
– Witness to enforced disappearance of Abdul Nasir, June 2010
Re: Nawaz vows to resolve Balochistan issue
This is why the Baloch are so aggrieved
Re: Nawaz vows to resolve Balochistan issue
There was an event by the name of Pakistan blog award in Karachi yesterday, and during the national anthem the baloch students and journalists kept sitting. We have successfully lost the ordinary baloch people too as a result of this conflict and our army believes that they are winning.
Pakistan army supported may be adviced srilankans in their bid to route Tamils.it seems they are trying to implement the same model in balochistan although the situation is different. There is international interest in the conflict, the borders of balochistan are with Iran and Afghanistan and americans are sitting inside the country whereas srilanka was an island hence easier to contain.
Re: Nawaz vows to resolve Balochistan issue
One of my friends is a moderate Baloch wh would have believed in Pakistan if it did just a little bit more for the people. I was in Quetta in February 2011 and I asked him there must be some good positive changes with a friendlier government in power and a different by the armed forces. He replied they have not done anything for us in 63 years so what will they do now? I do not want to support their bid for independence but we have failed them for s long. Why should they stay with us?
Re: Nawaz vows to resolve Balochistan issue
Divide and rule policy being used in Balochistan? The British did that to us, and we are doing that in our own country. Hats off to the intelligence of our army establishment.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/309422/jui-f-minister-accuses-fc-of-conspiring-to-spark-tribal-conflict/JUI-F minister accuses FC of conspiring to spark tribal conflict
**QUETTA: Provincial Minister for Labour and Manpower Maulvi Ghulam Sarwar Musakhail accused Frontier Corps (FC) personnel of instigating differences between Musakhail and Marri tribesmen for political reasons on Tuesday.
**
Talking on a point of order in the Balochistan Assembly, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam’s (JUI-F) Sarwar Musakhail said that the FC had set up several check posts inside residential areas in Musakhail after a deadly attack that left 14 FC personnel killed on November 21.
“Establishment of check posts inside residences and open areas are creating problems for the women as they can not freely move in the area because of the heavy presence of FC personnel. We are a tribal society and strongly oppose such measures.** Besides this, FC officials often hold meetings with tribal elders in Musakhail seeking their help to kill people belonging to the Marri tribe,” the Provincial Minister told the house.
**
**He added that Marri and Musakhail tribes have strong brotherly relations and have respect for each other.
“The FC wants to kill people belonging to the Marri tribe and give an impression that people of Musakhail are backing the FC. We do not want confrontation with the Marri tribe as they are our brothers. Everyday some people throw dead bodies of Marri tribesmen in Musakhail area with the intention to create differences between the two tribes.”**
The JUI-F Minister demanded the government to take up the issue with Inspector General FC Balochistan and resolve it amicably.
re: Balochistan crisis & its resolution!
An old thread but situation is still same (maybe got worse over time). Here’s an article of speeches in Balochistan assembly (1971-2) against tribal system and sardari nizam. The government NAP was sent packing by Bhutto after 9 months, and the first operation launched against the Baloch.
Speech against the Tribal System on the floor of The Provincial Assembly of Balochistan on June 8th 1972
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**BACKGROUND:
**
**It is not widely known nowadays but in 1972 a resolution was moved in the Balochistan Assembly demanding that the Federal Government abolish the Sardari, the Jirga System and the Tribal System since the Provincial Assembly did not have the authority to do so. The Federal Government took no action in this regard and about eight months later, on 14th Feburary, 1972 the National Awami Party (which was responsible for presenting the resolution in the Assembly) Government was overthrown and a military operation was launched in Balochistan.
**
On 8th June, 1972 Miss Fazila Aaliyani moved a motion demanding **“The eradication of the wrongs spread due to the presence of exploitationary institutions such as the Sardari, the Jirga System and the Tribal System so that the Province of Balochistan may progress socially and economically.”
**
This was followed by speeches made by:
1- The Education Minister Gul Khan Nasir (NAP) (in support of the resolution).
2- Maulvi Shams-ud-din (JUI) (in support of the resolution)
3- Maulvi Mohammad Hassan (JUI) (asked to impose shariat to replace the sardari system)
4- Abdus Samad Khan Achakzai (NAP Pukhtunkhwa) (against the resolution) (objected on the wording used in the motion)
5- Leader of the Opposition Jam Mir Ghulam Qadir (Ind) (against the resolution)
6- Mir Shahnawaz Khan Shaaliyani (Ind) (against the resolution)
7- Mian Saifullah Khan Paracha (PPP) (against the resolution)
8- Provincial President of NAP Sardar Khair Bakhsh Marri (in favour of the resolution).
(End of Session).
**On 21st June, 1972 Leader of the House Sardar Ataullah Mengal presented a resolution: **
**“Now, that the Tribal System has lost its advantages keeping it instated is going to act as a hurdle in the development of the people of these tribes. And the large amounts of annual allowances being given to the royal families (of the states which merged with Pakistan) and the Sardars are putting undue pressure on the country’s economy. Therefore, the Sardari system should be abolished in all parts of Pakistan (in whichever form it exists) and the annual allowances to former royal families be discontinued. And all the responsibilities of the Sardars be transferred to other institution just like in the other parts of the country.”
**
The resolution was followed by speeches by:
1- Leader of the House Sardar Ataullah Mengal (NAP)
2- Khan Abdus Samad Khan Achakzai (NAP-P) (opposed the resolution)
3- Leader of Opposition Jam Ghulam Qadir (Ind) (opposed and asked if shariath would be imposed instead of the Sardari System like Maulvi Mohammad Hassan Shah had suggested))
4- Senior Minister Balochistan Government Gul Khan Nasir (NAP) (supported the resolution and said that after abolition of sardari system there is no need for imposition of shariath)
5- Mian Saifullah Khan Paracha (PPP) (opposed)
6- Mir Shahnawaz Shaaliyani (Ind) (Opposed)
7- Sardar Ataullah Mengal (Used his right to reply as the mover of the resolution)
Resolution Passed 11 - 4 (15 members of the total 2
THOSE IN FAVOUR:-
1- Mir Ahmed Nawaz Bugti
2- Sardar Ataullah Mengal
3- Sardar Abdur Rehman Baloch
4- Mir Chakar Khan Domki
5- Mir Dost Mohammad Khan Baloch
6- Fazila Aaliyani
7- Mir Gul Khan Nasir
8- Sardar Khair Bakhsh Marri
9- Maulvi Mohammad Hassan Shah
10- Maulvi Saleh Mohammad
11- Nawabzada Sher Ali Khan Nosheerwani
THOSE AGAINST:-
1- Jam Mir Ghulam Qadir
2- Mohammad Anwar Jan Kethran
3- Mian Saifullah Khan Paracha
4- Mir Shahnawaz Shaaliyani
---------------------------------------------------------------
The June 8th speech of Gul Khan Nasir is given below, translated from its original Urdu into English.
Mir Gul Khan Nasir (8[SUP]th[/SUP] June, 1972)
**Mr. Speaker! Four things have been pointed out as hurdles to the economic and social progress of Balochistan in this resolution. These are: Sardari, The Tribal System, The Jirga System and all other measures by means of which the people of Balochistan have been, and are still being, exploited.****Mr. Speaker! As far as Sardari goes, there is no doubt that back when Balochistan was still in the tribal age, this (Sardari) might have been beneficial for the people but later, when the British came and decided to annex Balochistan as a part of their Empire, they realized that the only tool they could use to do so was the Sardar whose word was the law for his tribe. So they started to buy off the Sardars of the various tribes. **And from that day onward, instead of seeing himself as a representative of his tribe elected to serve them the Sardar began viewing himself as their master and them as his slaves. As a result of this, the natural process of our national progress was impeded. The biggest obstacle presented by this situation was that the Sardar could never tolerate one of his tribesmen to get an education and to one day be able to sit alongside him and speak with him as an equal. Thus, in all those areas where the Sardari was strong the people remained illiterate, unable to get jobs and ignorant of their rights. The direct result of this was that they were forced to obey their Sardar’s every command whether right or wrong. Here I think it is worth mentioning that the very first movement against the Sardari sytem in Balochistan was instigated by the son of a sardar, Mr. Yousuf Ali Khan Magsi. He was the first person to realize the flaws of this institution so he highlighted them and did everything in his power to try and abolish this system. Today the Balochistan we see which is ripe with a widespread sense of political awareness is entirely due to the sacrifices made by him and his colleagues. Mr. Speaker! As I said before, Sardari in the beginning, wasn’t a parasitic institution but when the Sardars became the agents of an imperial power the integrity of this institution began deteriorating. With the passage of time, and a newfound sense of political awareness, some knights rose from within the ranks of the Sardars and tried to destroy this castle of oppression and succeeded in diminishing its influence. But despite this, we do not wish to keep this rusty skeleton of the Sardari system as a monument or memorial of the past because as long as this institution remains (even as a vestige) it will keep our nation divided into various tribes and sub tribes which will render it impossible for us to achieve economic progress. Therefore, the main objective of presenting this resolution is to completely eradicate from the face of this earth, the disease stricken Sardari system which is taking its last breaths. The second thing is the Jirga System which is paramount for Sardari. Without it the Sardari System cannot thrive and vice versa. Mr. Speaker! Today, there are many members sitting in this House who know first hand that the Jirga System just fifty years ago wasn’t as it is today. Back then it was like a naked sword ready to strike down those enlightened few who refused to be subordinate to the Sardars. And in those days subordination to the Sardars was infact, subordination to the British. If the Jirga indicted a rebellious person from a certain tribe for standing up against his tribe’s Sardar, the Sardars of the other tribes would aid and partake in the sentencing eagerly from fear that if they didn’t do so then their subjects might also rebel against them one day. The Jirga was therefore used by our Sardars to deny the people their rights. So, the Jirga without a doubt is a great obstacle in the way of the independence and progress of the Baloch people. Then there is the matter of the measures being taken to exploit the people of Balochistan.Mr. Speaker! The measures I am talking about are the award of most of the resources, businesses and jobs in Balochistan to non-locals. So while the local population of Balochs and Pashtuns remain unemployed a majority of the jobs are occupied by people who are not inhabitants of this region. And this process started a long time ago. e.g. I remember that up until 1937 almost 99% of the jobs in Balochistan were held by non-locals. At that time almost all the businesses here were owned by them (the non locals) and all the minerals being extracted from mines such as the Degari Coal Mines were profiting them. I, myself, had the opportunity to go there (DCM) while in service of the Princely State of Kalat, and saw that the around twenty mines which were located there, all were owned by non locals. So, all the wealth generated from the natural resources of Balochistan was being used to crush the Independence Movement in Kalat and the British Balochistan. Even today we see the fruit of the seeds that had been sown by the British being reaped by the Capitalist Class that has emerged in Balochistan. These Capitalists exploit the natural resources of Balochistan and utilize the revenue generated from them towards expanding their Mills and Factories. Most of these people are the descendants of those traitors who aided the British in enslaving the people of Balochistan and exploiting them. In conclusion Mr. Speaker! Let me say this: capital, be it of a Baloch, a Pashtun or an inhabitant of any other place is insidious to the progress of nations because the means employed to gain certain ends in the capitalist system benefit only certain individuals. Therefore, instead of a single individual benefiting from the resources of a region I think it would be more befitting if the nation as a whole benefited from them. Now, seeing as we don’t have much time, with these words I conclude my speech and support the resolution.
re: Balochistan crisis & its resolution!
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C12%5C27%5Cstory_27-12-2011_pg3_5**CARTE BLANCHE: Nothing but a lie… —Mehmal Sarfraz***In this ‘land of the pure’, it is easy to blame the political class for all ills. What is more difficult is facing reality. The bitter truth is that since there is no civilian supremacy, the military top brass, both in the past and the present, has treated our country like its personal fiefdom.
There are some people in this world who are just so brave, brutally honest and awe-inspiring that one cannot help but respect them.** Many names come to mind when one thinks of Pakistanis who inspire these feelings. One such name is senior Baloch nationalist leader, Sardar Ataullah Mengal. A man of integrity, Mengal sahib is known to be a progressive, secular, liberal Baloch nationalist. When he was chief minister of Balochistan in 1972, he focused on education and industrial development for the neglected people of his province. Unfortunately, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto dismissed the Balochistan government and Sardar Ataullah Mengal and other Baloch nationalist leaders were arrested. He spent many years in jail due to trumped-up charges in the Hyderabad Conspiracy Case. His 23-year-old son, Asad, was killed by intelligence agencies in Karachi, while his other son, Akhtar, who also served as chief minister of Balochistan, was arrested during the Musharraf regime. Despite his personal loss and suffering, the powers-that-be have not been able to break Mengal sahib’s spirit. He remains steadfast in his commitment to the Baloch cause.**
In an interview with a private news channel on December 25, Sardar Ataullah Mengal refused to use the word ‘establishment’ for the army and the ISI because he thought it was a very polite term used to hide their names. He also made some statements that should give all Pakistanis some food for thought. “If you think there is any government [hakoomat] other than the army, you are mistaken. There was army’s rule, there is army’s rule and there will be army’s rule because they are the real rulers of Pakistan,” said Mengal sahib. This is an uncomfortable truth.
Pakistan is at a critical juncture. After nine years of military rule, democracy was finally restored in 2008 after an election. The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) formed a coalition government but from day one moves have been afoot to undermine its credibility. Palace intrigues are a norm in our country. After more than three years of being in power, the democratically elected government is now under attack from all sides, be it the military ‘establishment’, the judiciary, the opposition or the general public. This government tried to appease the military in every way possible. Even after the May 2 raid that led to Osama bin Laden being killed by the Americans, the PPP stood by the military high command, much to the chagrin of those who have been asking for civilian supremacy for decades. The Memogate scandal changed everything. The military seems to be upset with the PPP but the government has finally stood up to it and made it quite clear that it will not go down without a fight. Some say tensions between them were somewhat defused after Prime Minister Gilani took direct digs at the army and the ISI that led General Kayani to issue a rather defensive statement that the army is “fully cognizant of its constitutional obligations and responsibilities”; others believe that the military has not backed down since it issued a veiled threat to the PPP when General Kayani said that “there can be no compromise on national security” in the same statement. This cat and mouse game will not end until and unless the issue of civil-military imbalance is addressed.
Those who are disillusioned with the current political setup need to realise that ours is a nascent democracy. The crises plaguing our country cannot be dealt with overnight. When a weak government is not allowed to function and conspiracies are hatched to destabilise it at every opportune moment, it can hardly deliver much. Despite all the problems this government faced, it did some amazing work in the shape of the 18th Amendment, the NFC Award, partial reforms in FATA, pro-women legislation, building a consensus on the war on terror, etc. This is not to say that the criticism levelled against the incumbents is completely unfair either. It could have performed better.
In this ‘land of the pure’, it is easy to blame the political class for all ills. What is more difficult is facing reality. The bitter truth is that since there is no civilian supremacy, the military top brass, both in the past and the present, has treated our country like its personal fiefdom. Let’s not forget that a large chunk of our budget goes to the military — the same military that has sent civilian governments packing many a time in the past, the same military that is killing its own people in Balochistan, the same military that has given overt and covert support to militant outfits, the same military that has a big hand in strengthening religious extremists, the same military that is involved in exporting terrorism across the border.
Sardar Ataullah Mengal pointed out the elephant in the room:** “Until the politicians send the army back to the barracks, politics is nothing but a lie.” These words should serve as an eye-opener for not just our politicians but the entire Pakistani nation. Each democratically elected government should be allowed to complete its tenure. If the people are not happy with the ruling party, they should vote them out in the next election. The military will go back to the barracks and politics will be left to the civilians only when democracy is strengthened. Let’s work on achieving this goal.**
The writer is Op-Ed Editor Daily Times. She can be reached at [email protected]*
re: Balochistan crisis & its resolution!
Ataullah mengal has said that the situation of balochistan can only improve if Pakistan punishes the people responsible for the crisis, seriously I don't see that happening. So we'll have to see how the crisis can be resolved finally.
re: Balochistan crisis & its resolution!
I do have a question that should bugit had been made a hero as he was a sardar (what he did to kalpars is known) and was attacking security forces just like what TTP do. Imran also wants to "talk" with TTP, though he talks about the west where if you have lived there, they would crush like an insect if you take up arms against the state and the criminal cases are never forgiven. MQM was rightly punished for its activities back in the day, though my only concern is the collateral damage that happened there, which should be the only concern NOT saintifying bugtis and TTPs as some "heroes".
re: Balochistan crisis & its resolution!
The way I see the issue is that Bugti has been converted into a hero by our forces themselves, he was an old man and would have died (due to natural causes) if left alone in a couple of years. Why were the baloch’s attacking Pakistan army and installations before the operation? Have any of the reasons for that addressed? In order to crush the uprising PA has been killing students, teachers and professionals which has made sure that the independence movement has spread from one-two tribes to most of the Baloch people.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/313873/seeking-solutions-peace-will-not-prevail-without-military-withdrawal/‘Peace will not prevail without military withdrawal’]('Peace will not prevail without military withdrawal')
The conditions in the province bear a resemblance to those in Bangladesh, say JI leader*s.
By Saba Imtiaz
Published: December 30, 2011
****KARACHI: **Because it fears that Balochistan is on the brink of no return, the Jamaat-e-Islami has called for “an end to the unannounced military operation and the role of the [intelligence] agencies in the province.”
**
The party has also asked for military leaders, including former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf, to be held accountable in a court of law for the human rights violations in Balochistan.
The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader Asadullah Bhutto and its leaders in Balochistan and Sindh, Abdul Mateen Akhunzada and Mohammad Hussain Mehanti, met with veteran Baloch leader, Sardar Ataullah Mengal, at the latter’s residence on Thursday. When asked if the situation in Balochistan was bad, Akhunzada darkly remarked, “It is not just bad, it has gone far beyond that.”
The “makruh and condemnable role” of security agencies operating in Balochistan is not the way to developing an understanding, Akhunzada told the journalists present. **JI believes that the number of enforced disappearances and the bullet riddled bodies being found are signs of how Balochistan has become reminiscent of the condition in Bangladesh prior to its independence in 1971.
**
The party and Mengal also spoke about the targeted killings of Punjabi settlers in the province.
**Mengal reiterated that the “protectors of the country” – the Pakistan Army – has become an army for Punjab only.
**
**Mengal is reported to have said that, “If a Punjabi is killed, dozens of Baloch youth are taken away by the agencies illegally. People wait for years to hear about their whereabouts and then receive the bullet-riddled bodies of their loved ones. How can there not be a reaction?” He also questioned why the military does not react in a similar manner when people are killed in Karachi.
**
Despite JI’s call and Mengal’s warnings about the condition in Balochistan, no one sees a way out until the military withdraws from Balochistan. Mengal told JI that there was not a “single person in Pakistan who could gain the trust of the Baloch”.
The leaders agreed that those responsible for targeted killings must be dealt with – but in a legal manner.
Mehanti also questioned the Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, for not fulfilling his promise to withdraw troops from Balochistan. JI leaders also blamed the current Pakistan Peoples Party government for having wasted the last four years instead of trying to reverse the situation that Musharraf left Balochistan in.
The JI leaders said there were “no prospects for progress” in the province and highlighted the injustices, deplorable economic conditions and lack of resources given to Balochistan. JI also asked the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take suo motu notice of the situation in Balochistan, similar to how it acted on the target killings in Karachi earlier this year.
**Mehanti said his party appreciated the fact that Sharif had visited Mengal to discuss the matter and that there was a need to unite to prevent a ‘catastrophe like 1971’.
**
Published in The Express Tribune, December 30[SUP]th[/SUP], 2011.
Re: Balochistan crisis & its resolution!
[note]Merged the threads related to Balochistan into one thread where we can discuss the Balochistan crisis, and any news related to its resolution.[/note]
Re: Balochistan crisis & its resolution!
Bomb blast in Quetta 9 dead scores injured. Inna Lillah e wa Inna Elaihi rajioon.
Re: Balochistan crisis & its resolution!
It is interesting to see that so many polticians, intellectuals always say the same - that the army rules. Do civilian governments have any power?
The problem with the army is that it is dominated by people from a small portion of the country and it behaves just as those who ruled before it - the British colonial but in a way much worse. That same area is way ahead of others in development.
I do not think this will ever change in Pakistan. Our leaders are not capable of it.
Is our army behaving like a colonial occupying force in areas? If so how do we change it?
Re: Balochistan crisis & its resolution!
The way things are panning our in balochistan , the federal government is also responsible as they have ceded all their powers to the military. They should try to get their authority back if they want the issue to be resolved, for any army in the world (rightly or wrongly) the way to go is force, and the results we see are like south Sudan, Bangladesh and countless other countries that we see in the world.
Re: Balochistan crisis & its resolution!
Pakistan army as how I see it is trying to solve balochistan issue (srilanka style) but the situation of both are quite different. Srilanka was an island (hence easier to defend) whereas balochistan has borders with Afghanistan and Iran. Americans are sitting within the country, and the strategic location and mineral resources make it a very important area (hence prone to foreign interventions).
Our forces are committing excesses against the people of Balochistan, we need to recognize that and force our army to take corrective action asap. Not everything can be conquered through force alone. If PA does not mend its ways, Balochistan is so important strategically that sooner or later I see international community coming to the rescue of Balochistan (with the war on terror on its last leg, and relations between Pakistan and America worsening the Balochistan issue can start getting more international importance) . When that happens Pakistan will try to solve the situation through negotiations but by that time it would already be a bit too late.