Of course, the elite of Pakistan — and I include the liberal intellectuals in this — do not seem to take the possibility of the province going its own way too seriously. They always seem to take the argument of geography, saying that East Pakistan was geographically separated from the western wing and since that is not the case with Balochistan, any separation would be a figment of someone’s colourful imagination.
In the relatively short span of six years, due to Islamabad’s hawkish approach, the demand of the Baloch shifted from one of greater autonomy and self-rule, to wholesale withdrawal from the federation. Instead of realising that policies undertaken by Islamabad are to blame for the current impasse, many people outside of the province tend to shift responsibility to actors within it. This is a flawed approach and will make an already bad situation even worse.
The current tension between the people of Balochistan and the rest of Pakistan, especially the centre, are caused by growing socio-economic insecurities, and by the systematic discrimination and oppression of the local people of the province by a centre dominated by the country’s most populous province. The Baloch have, for many years now, been living a marginalised existence and now see no hope for improvement. So, from their viewpoint, they are only doing what anyone in their predicament would do, so that their future generations may have a chance for living a peaceful and prosperous life.
Many modern states swiftly address these grievances through political and institutional restructuring of the system. This is done so that those who live in the region and are aggrieved, feel that they are part of the mainstream, and what they think and believe is important as far as the state’s overall agenda and policies are concerned. However, politically less conscious and ethnically dominant countries, impose violent and suppressive means to further subjugate oppressed ethnic groups and people.
An example of this can be found in Yugoslavia where the dominant Serb elite considered other ethnic groups as inferior and deprived them politically and economically. Serbian policy resulted in one of the world’s bloodiest conflicts and ended up with the dismantling of the former Yugoslavia.
In the case of Balochistan, the despair present here is a result of a) persistent institutional oppression; b) never-ending exploitation; c) denial of politico-economic rights and d) increasing national (Baloch) insecurity in the existing state structure.
All this indicates a classical colonial relationship between Balochistan and the centre. The Baloch feel that they are living life at gunpoint, with their daily existence under threat because of the violence that has been going on in their province.
They feel that the centre’s policies aim to control their land for long-term strategic reasons and that this also has to do with the province’s wealth of natural and mineral resources. They also think that their historically-moderate social and cultural fabric is being attacked by forces supported by the establishment and that their underdevelopment is part of a deliberate policy to keep their region deprived.
Previously, protests in the province were ruthlessly suppressed as well. However, this time around, the establishment has to contend with rapidly changing geo-strategic realities, the presence of a loud and vibrant social media and a sizeable Baloch diaspora which is able to rally support overseas.
The only way forward is for the state to address this issue by taking into account historical, cultural, economic and political factors.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 11th, 2012.
COMMENTS (65)
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who r the punjabis and what rights they have to settle in balochistan. it is the rights of the baloch to let them settle in balochistan or to evict them from their land. if some punjabis business or properties got looted , it is blamed on some sardars and on baloch people and is considered to be criminal act, so what about the punjabis looting and plundering the wealth and riches of balochistan for so many years and keeping the province backward in every aspect of life?
@A. Nabi Baloch:
You must be one of few who are slaves of sardars, and don't know who is your real enemy (indians and CIA).
We all Pakistanis need to work together to get rid of these real terrorists.
@Asif Rathore:
We would love to have Indian and international support so we can be an independent nation where only secular and democratic values will promoted. We will not slaughter Qadianis, force Christians to convert, kidnap hindu daugters to marry. As far as Sana Baloch is concerned, i dont understand what he is looking for? Self rule or Independence.
@Maulana Diesel: What Maulana Desiel if we take 100% Pashtoon in Balochistan. do not be angry.
India should immediately give Balochistan billions of dollars of money, through NATO and also help them buy advanced weapons. India should stop behaving like a chicken and foment this separation with every resource we have at our disposal.
USA should be more than willing to help.
Balochistan is facing a genocide that might well become the second biggest genocide since WW II (the biggest was in 1971). Balochistan's right to freedom is legitimate and unlike Kashmir's bigoted idea of a country for religion.
@ilyana: Dear sir how many punjabis reach by their hard work in bungle desh? They are not your colony now so none. Have you produced a single hard working punjabi who is their chief secretary in last 40 years. In 23 years u ruled and none was Bengali Chief secretary. How many English beaurocrat are now in sub continent ? None.... We are not colony any more. Before they were every where because they were hard working ,no, because they were our masters. Rest of provinces are your colonnies so hard working or no hard working punjabis are there This is truth and u have to accept that you are colonizer please accept it. Don't talk about hard work. Hard work produces only orderlies .
@Tahir: That is what u have done in last 64 years protecting sardars.... By the way who r u decide that let people of Baluchistan decide.... Indians decide in India , Chinese decide in china but in Baluchistan Baloch don't decide
Go back 40 years and see what u said about bengalies .. They are inching ahead of u like proud nation.... Read, write and speak in Bengali. They have whole armed forces ... Bengali. All judiciary Bengali .. All universities manned by Bengali ports are manned by bengalies.....they still suffer from JI remnants idealogy in army and in some people hopefully that will die down in next 20 years. I wish Mujib has succeeded and implemented 6 points to all provinces Think of anything it is for local people and Go inBalochistan u don't find any Baloch in any business or organization......think of that if they break away in 40 years they will have all what u have
Pakistan should allow the Balochs to vote on whether they want independence from Pakistan - and India should do the same with Kashmir.
@Ali Hazara: Its funny that you put Hazara at the end of your name to validate your comment. Well i worked in Balochistan on different Oil fields, none of them were completed due to Baloch insurgents and due to the claim of royalty by baloch sardars, i met with many people over there. People have been misguided by few I dont have any sympathies with sipah, infact i hate this terrorist org. But i am against the argument when we put every blame on taliban and sipah and other orgs without knowing the actual facts.......
@muhammad ajmal: You actually answered your own question by highlighting the fact that "Punjabis" are "colonial settlers" where native Baloch people have been deprived of their rights. No wonder they are hated and seen as part of the crimes perpetuated by the Punjabi Civil-Military elite. It's time to stop "Indian atrocities mantra in Kashmir" and to start critical reflection at own deeds in depriving Baloch people of their just and fair right. Failure to do so will only result in Independence of Balochistan - may be then we will learn the historic lesson to respect the rights and diversity of all these people living in the vast plains of Indus Valley.
wonderful piece Sana Baloch.Please keep writing and opening our eyes.. We hope the Establishment can make any sense sooner than later.
Does anyone have data on Baloch women kidnapped, killed and disappeared by Pakistan army to further oppress Baloch families. Such gross violations should be taken to Amnesty International and the UN.
There is a strong correlation between "fuedel and sardari system" and "incidence of poverty". It is loud and clear, be it south punjab, interior sindh, balochistan or FATA. I am against feudalism and Sardarism any where as it is a system of oppression for general masses.
@HH:why punjab? why not sindh or kpk or balochistan???things are the same .this way or the other......if punjabis are in majority in the establishment it is due to their own struggle;their politicians or feudals have never presented them with the opportunities.efforts always begin at an individual level.no use of blame game.
@Maryam: Ms. Maryam... It is not a false argument. Part of the blame must be shared by Baloch Sardars. An assertive analysis like yours, is contributing to the plight of the Baloch people and not helping them. Sorry to say.
If Sardars r responsible for underdevelopment and they dont like development than how come military built Four Navel bases, 15 Airfields, 80 Cantonments, Three Nuclear testing sites, 5 missile testing sites, 2000 checkposts...???
When we ask for education, health, ownership of resources they simply refuse and blame sardars....
God bless u Sana Jan, please keep it up and preach factualy about Balochistan.
In lot of comments, this false argument is repeated that it is Baloch Sardars who have made Balochistan poor. If this is the case then why Sindhi Vaderas, Punjabi Chawdhries, Karachi and Punjabi Industrialists are not blamed? What is stopping the Centre from giving the control of resources of Baluchistan to Baloch Sardars and why Baloch Sardars will not take that control? Initially it was only Bugti, Marri and Maingal tribes who are against Pakistan then why there is no development in other tribes in Balochistan. Please stop blaming Sardars and solve the real problems and one of the documentary on BBC some times ago mention that Punjab know nothing about Balochistan. It was Punjab in 1971 which did have the same attitude as shown here in some of the comments. Jhaag Merey Punjab Keh Pakistan Chala....
Very wise piece - peace and prosperity is possible if our government and establishment understand these lines, "The only way forward is for the state to address this issue by taking into account historical, cultural, economic and political factors".
@Ali Iqbal: re visit your facts, who are you trying to mislead here - the hazaras, shias or simply trying to get sympathy for sipahe sihaba from punjab???? a reality check will first hurt but for sure will help you and many others:
Best written stuff to understand for those who still live in the paradise of fools and ignore ground realities. Well done Sana Baloch.
The ethnic composition of Baluchistan has been seriously compromised by settlers who have now made the Baloch a minority in their own province. This same policy is being followed by China in Tibet. Changing the ethnic and racial profile of an province by bringing outside settlers is an old policy but not a very successful one. In Indian Kashmir no outsider has been allowed to settle or buy land, a fact shoved under the carpet by propagandists. In sensitive provinces outsiders should not be allowed to usurp LAND.
I really admire Sanaullah Baloch for his vision. This article is very good, however, I was expecting a more detailed analysis towards the possible solutions, rather than only one last paragraph which is very generic in nature.
Baloch should also blame their Sardars who were given powers and they ruled the whole country (Jamali)..then why they were unable to resolve their problems. Blaming Pakistan is a one sided story.
Senator; the US Congressional hearing on Balochistan should be eye opener for the Baloch Nationalists as well. With their profound understanding of International and left-right politics, it shouldn't be difficult for them to understand why this support has been offered so late.
And this time the World Super Power has explicitly declared their interests in Balochistan this time without mincing words.
By stereotyping Punjab for all our ills, we end up committing the same what we condemn in Pakistani Establishment, concocting facts and misleading and indoctrinating the masses. The poor of Punjab is at no advantage than his counterpart in Sindh, KP, Balochistan, AJK or GB.
The Establishment is pre dominantly but not entirely Punjabi. It has it fair amount of our Pakhtoons, their Sindhis, Kashmiries and your Balochs. Who are Jaams, Magsis and Jamalis?
Where we expected Baloch Comrades to unite Pakistan against the greedy and cunning Establishment, it has offered itself to the world's most greedy creature, the US, the very imperialist they taught us to hate.
And last but not the least, Armed insurgency and that too half heartedly is never going to gain you freedom. LTTE, IRA and Kashmiri Mujahideens are an example. Che's Era is history now.
@Ali Iqbal:
Good analysis of the real situation in Balochistan. Nice contribution to the discussion.
@muhammad ajmal:
Thanks. You just spoke my mind. I am a proud Pakistani and then a Pathan. I have lived in Quetta for years and have a fair understanding of what is happening in Balochistan. Why our media is not highlighting the brutal murders of Punjabis who are being forcibly evicted of their homes and businesses? Some MPAs of the Balochistan assembly are part of a mafia which force Pubjabis to flee and buy their properties and businesses at dirt-cheap rates. They are making tons of money and keep coming on the media to shed crocodile tears abou their innocence and the oppression they are being subjected to. But shame on our media. This dilemma of Punjabis is not be highlighted by our media.
Why should Balochis get freedom when Kashmiris cannot? How come US is highlighting Balochistan and not Kashmir. Gee smells a tad fishy. Anyway, this Congress has an extremely low approval rating and is living in a bubble.
Could not be more agree with the author. but there are some point which should be kept in mind while discussing balochistan topic this time, because baloch people have lost lot of their both lives and material to get to the stage where us congress is debating their cause. So baloch will not go back and start dialogue with Islambad with any third part between as gurantor of the pledges that Islambad may again make to baloch people. this time the center can not just see it sufficient to address the grievances with only announcing some more decisive packages since baloch come to discuss the topic not less than for an independence balochistan and they have every right to claim this as they have been struggling for this since their forced occupation by pakistani forces..... Now all baloch should stand for only one which an Independence balochistan
@muhammad ajmal: Because these killings are the aftermath. They too are condemn-able, no one has the right to kick anybody out of their houses yet alone kill them however you must understand that the Balochs have been pushed to a point where they have gone to extremes. No gas to place where we get gas from. That is the height of being criminal.
Do not agree with your comments. There are 52 % pashtuns living alongside but there had never been any separatist tendency. Only 37% are the sufferers, no one can agree.
Its about time that we should dismantle the Sardari system in Balochistan that is the only way ordinary Balochis will get liberated from centuries old oppression. We have nothing to fear of from any outside force as nobody can dare to mess with nuclear Pakistan.
senator sana baloch is a very well known politician as well as a notable writer, his comprehensive articles provide much guideline and awareness,but here is problem with govt that how to deal balochistan same as doctor treats the patient without diagnosing the seriousness of illness,i think still not too late, must handle the crises of balochistan politically instead of using guns,as gun is not the solution of any problem even in worse situations,it need simple political solution, to involve the genuine leadership from both sides to find out roots of baloch difficulties and sadness otherwise the illness will become a cancer which is hard to cure either then to cut or results death.
@Cynical: yes you are right... and you forgot to mention that the next demand for self rule will come from pashtoons.. they will also demand for pashtoonistan.... then the whole world will go back by 1000 years when city state used to exist which were based upon ethnicity of that area... haha :))
panjabi pakistanis people talk about self determination of kashmir on the basis of religion, which is an archaic argument. They should forget about it and should focus on saving their colonies of baloochistan, pashtoonishtan and Sindhistan...
well, Senator, thanks for an excellent piece. Moreover, liberals should understand that South Sudan was part n parcel of Sudan and was not a satellite part but managed to get rid of Khartoum. Many other examples can also be quoted but I am just citing South Sudan because its very recent. Its only justice, equal opportunity, right to rule and right to own one's natural resources that can keep the federating units together. Its now responsibility of each one of us from Punjab to raise our voice against the atrocities of the Punjab dominated establishment against our Baloch brothers and sisters. Moreover, it will be good for Baloch nationalists to avoid using their hatred against settlers as they are also the victims of the same unjust system and making the weak a target of your hatred does not sound very brave. It reflects the same mentality as that of establishment i.e use of power against the already depressed. Warm regards
Baluchistan is often compared with Kashmir. Pakistani Punjabis make loads of noise when their fellow Punjabis are killed in Baluchistan. Almost two lac Kashmiri pundits were uprooted by jihadies from valley. These pundits have been living there much before Islam came. What Pakistan backed Jihad did to Kashmir, will happen in Baluchsitan also. Don't complain now even if India supports Baluch openly as Pakistan has been doing the same in Kashmir.
I totally agree with Sanaullah Baloch and we did not learn anything from East Pakistan. We plundered Baluchistan time and again and we want them to not complain. I think this struggle is in the final stages, and may Allah help our Baloch Brothers and let their sufferings be reduced either in Pakistan or without Pakistan. Let their sufferings finished which every way is good for them. Regards
Self rule is birth right; for palestinians,kurds,chechens,tibetians,ughairs,kashmiris,balochs as well for punjabis.
Balochistan should get its right to self-determination. The separatists would lose. Almost 50% of the population in Balochistan is non-Baloch. They automatically want Pakistan. More than enough Baloch want Pakistan to tip the scale past the 50% for Pakistan, easily. This, of course, won't solve the issue at hand. But the separatists, "nationalists", and sardars aren't interested in solving anything, they're only interested in crying and terrorism.
If we want to save Pakistan, then Punjab has to be sacrificed. It should be made into 4-5 small provinces then other provinces wouldnt complain of punjab's hegemony.
bring the ARMY under law other wise we lost our this half PAKISTAN also..
Sardar, I am not apologetic about my origins, I ain't even scared because you and your thuggish goons have sought refuge not very far away from me and for a change we do have rule of law where they can't just kill me.... Sardari system and your primitive cave man tribal system is the evil link in the mesh of problems.... Sardar do not represent Baluch, ...funny though all of the terrorists are Infact Sardar backed, says something about how interests clash. Army and FC are treating just right, it serves you for killing innocent people. Maybe you can sell yourself to USor Indians ...there is always some Traitor for sale!
@muhammad ajmal: Not only punjabies were killed but balochs were also killed for supporting security establishment to clamp down baloch freedom fighters. but remember 5th insurgency began when musharaf killed nawab akbar bugti.
Bugti was getting 1 billion rupees every year as royalty for Sui, according to agreement he has to provide the facilities to local people in return. Marri are getting 20 Million ruppes every year, what they had done with this money. Khan of Kalat getting 45 million ruppes every year as royalty what they did with that money.
How many schools, colleges, hospitals they have built with the money in last 40 years. They are the real culprits, Balochis should raise their voice against them
It is due to Indian support of separatist...please dont twist the words
Its all false stories that we are using the resources of Baluchistan... 68% gas is produced by Interior Sindh, only 14% is from Baluchistan. Only 5% of Pakistan population is in Baluchistan. Punjab in return is providing them food. KPK & Punjab providing them Water Karachi & Southern Punjab provided them opportunities. Where hundreds of thousands living for livelihood
Now here comes a funny point, 3 tribes want to get separated...45% Pashtoons, 8% Hazara, 3% Punjabis including saraikis (born and raised in Balochistan) dont want any separation... Secondly the land of Gwadar was purchased by Pakistan it was handed over to Balochistan by Federal Govt. Few tribes have their interest and getting supprt from outside wants liberation "Why we should allow them" these orgs are threat against state and we should support our army to curb these movements
Few questions to Media & Balochi: Why Teachers were targeted.Who killed them? Why Balochi Movements killed Hazara people? Thousands of Punjabi killed but no voice for them? Thousands of Shias murdered by Balochi Movements no voice for them, its funnny to blame sipah sahaba (although they are extremely bad) but they are not involvedin this mess. What Jandullah is doing over there, why Jandullah hire killers from BLA and other movements against Iran. Who killed every person has some sympathy for Punjab. Why the Senators/MNA coming in TV programs live in Islamabad in their private luxury homes rather than living in Balochistan. They need only votes and than they moved to Karachi/Lahore/Islamabad. Why Brahamdagh is running the organization from Switzerland however its not allowed according to Swiss law. why Radio Baloch is broadcasting from Sweden...ask these swedish people how many radio channels are there against human rights violations in Kashmir and palestine (Its all foreign funded where balochis are just being used by their tribal leaders)
Who r u mr. John? What do u know about Balochistan? You must be a spy or ....? @John B: Would u like say something about indian forces in Kashmir?
First of All, Balochistan does not only belong to BALOCH, there are more pushtuns living in Balochistan than Balochs, secondly Balochistan is facing these problems because of the feudals living there from generations. Why the Author has not shown concerned on this matter. The real problem of Blochistan is the feudalism. Just see the feudal "Akbar Buggti" who studied at oxford but never allowed to open the school in his city Dera bugtti... Just read about his biography where he states that the first murder he did was when he was nine years old and dont remember why he did it.... I will ask the House Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee to please help pakistan eliminate these feudals from the Balochistan and help baloch people to get free from these cruel, illiterate feudals. DEAR AUTHOR WHY COULDNT YOU SEE THE FEUDALISIM PROBLEM OF BALOCHISTAN
Very well written column. I agree with the Senator's analaysis. Establishment has to come out of its historically self righteous approach to tackle this issue. I am from Punjab but I believe that we haven't treated our Baloch brothers the way we should have treated them.
Mr. Baloch may think that the Balochis are being denied their fair share of development, but I think that Mr. Baloch would serve his people well if he were to have a better look at his Sardars and their role in the situation that prevails in Balochistan today. Have the Sardars not been squandering away funds allocated to Balochistan while getting huge sums of money from PPL (Sui gas field) privately? Mr. Baloch should ask why no money reaches the common man, what role the sardars have to play in the grand scheme of things and why the lives of the poor people dont improve.
If he thinks that this problem is unique to Balochistan, I would urge him to visit Sindh. He would see far greater poverty/ squalor in the Bhutto-Zardari areas. Visiting those areas and seeing the way people live, it is hard to belive that PMs, claiming to be Sindhis, came to power 3 times.
Same is the case with rural Punjab. Immoral rich people are squeezing the poor people and ofcourse blaming everyone under the sun. In Mr. Balochs case, he is blaming Punjabis, the GOP etc. He should know better not to blame others for his and his Sardars failings.
@Muhammad Ajmal - thousands of Punjabis??? even one should be condemned, principally i'm with you - but please don't exaggerate......
The only way forward is,world should help correct the historical fault lines of Balochistan.Balochs primary issue is liberty,while others are secondary.
Every Baloch sardar has a fabulous mansion in Karachi and usually one in Islamabad too. Then they turn around and make statements about an Azaad Balochistan and Pakistan depriving them of their rights. Excuse me if I find these words hollow. I have a lot of sympathy for innocent non-Baloch civilians who've been targeted simply to drive fear into the hearts of Pakistanis over Balochistan. Its considered dangerous to fly the Pakistani flag in Balochistan because these separatists target you thereafter. Eliminate the sardari system if you want a better standard of living and security in Balochistan..its them that're the cause of your problems and the cause of all these complaints. While ordinary balochis live squalid lives, their sardars enjoy opulence and a medieval dictatorship over the people in their territories. The ethnic domination of the center is a problem that nobody can ignore...the sooner we split Punjab into at least 2 parts (preferably 3), the sooner Pakistan will be cured of these recurring problems. You simply cannot have a functioning federation of such few provinces when one of them is so much larger than all the rest. Split up punjab and destroy the feudals in every province.
You are talking about Balochs or Baloch Sardars? Baloch Sardars have kept their own people illiterate, powerless and suppressed. What is good for Sardars is not necessarily good for the people at large. Should state help in protecting and promoting a Sardari system where every one except the ruling class is like "Shudars".
Good article. I believe the solution requires a comprehensive solution of using new avenues of reaching Baloch people in addition to Sardars who have usually represented Balochistan politically, and facilitating extractive industry development and re-investment of revenues for infrastructure development. Furthermore, the long-term strategy also requires establishing better relationships with neighbors to minimize their perceived or actual influence in the region and re-zoning. Re-zoning is important because Balochistan is the largest province with the lowest population because of which it has not been able to enjoy electoral significance and therefore was always put on the back-burner. Mitigating that would require new city structure formation with higher density and also attracting people from other provinces through commercial incentives to rehabilitate the region and actualize its full socio-economic potential.
Senator, Why didn't you Include your party's political goal? The Right of self-detemination should be given to balochistan Its the only way forward. All oppressed nations Should be given the right of self-detemination Including kashmir , kurdistan and All others
test comment. Please ignore
I am from Punjab and all my sympathies are with Baloch people (Please note that I said people and not the sardars who have always used their people and have never allowed development for the poorest of the poor in Baluchistan) I have always believed in full autonomy for the provinces. Sui gas should've been provided to people of Baluchistan first and then to rest of the Pakistan. Every Balcoh is as much Pakistani as is someone from Punjab, Sind, or KP. I stand with them in their struggle to attain their rights. However, it is shameful for their leaders to collaborate with outside forces who have never been sincere to Pakistan to resolve their issues. I certainly don't believe that majority of Baloch sardars are sincere with their own people. But then neither are the "Wadairas" of rest of the country. The most notorious criminal of this country has become the President. Rest of them have become PM, Leader of the Oppositions (Sharif brothers), ministers and governors. I hope people of Pakistan would wake up soon and resolve their differences internally. Additionally, I hope we bring justice to the looters of this country (Zardaris, Gilanis, Diesels, Chaudries, Sharifs, Awans, Corrupt Baloch Sardars etc) and treat them exactly like Qaddafi was treated in Libya.
Balochistan is Pakistan's Achilles heel.
National Party Senator Mr. Bazenjo and S.M Zafar raised some very good points in Capital Talk yesterday. They agreed that the government policy has always been to do all work through the Sardars, just like the Imperial British did. The solution must have a two-pronged approach. 1. Continue development, albeit while bypassing the Sardars and engaging with the public. 2. Continue with dialogue. Security forces should play no role in Balochistan other than safeguarding the borders with Iran and Afghanistan and the 18th amendment should be completely implemented. There certainly are some agencies elements who oppose the 18th amendment implementation, but what is the point of having a democracy if the PPP government can't stand up to them and say no. Ultimately, the buck stops at PPP.
It's not a one way battle.what about the genocide against punjabi civilians in balochistan? thousands have been killed including doctors,professors and barbers.people were taken off of buses after their NIC's were checked and they were shot at point blank range after they were found to be punjabis.these punjabi migrants had been living,working in balochistan for 40,50 years,yet now they were driven out of their homes and businesses just because they had the bad luck to be punjabis.why on blogs or op-eds about these deliberate murders on the basis of ethnicity? The deaths of balochs are highly condemnable but why doesn't the media ever condemn the target killings of punjabis in balochistan also? why is it just a one sided portrayal of the situation in balochistan? are the punjabi settlers in balochistan less human than the rest of the population that their murders don't merit condemnation by the media?