On the same day that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani announced an All-Parties Conference to discuss the Balochistan issue, the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights urged both the government and the judiciary to do more to stop the gross violations of human rights by the military in the province. Unfortunately, the National Assembly as well as the civilian leadership, has paid little more than lip service when it comes to Balochistan. That was the case in 2008, when Gilani, amid much hope and publicity, announced the Balochistan package — a fairly sensible document that spoke of real reform. However, this document has been gathering dust, never to be spoken of and never to be acted on again. Instead, the National Assembly found it more useful to pass a resolution condemning the US Congress for daring to discuss the situation in Balochistan last week. Challenging the US is all well and good, but when it comes to investigating or even simply condemning, the Frontier Corps’ policy of extrajudicial killings and illegal abductions, the legislative body suddenly loses its tongue.
There is slightly more hope that the judiciary may be more effective than the legislature at forcing the military to mend its ways in Balochistan. On January 27, Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry ordered the heads of the ISI and MI to produce a report documenting the killings in the province. As in Gilani’s contempt case and in the case of the Adiala Jail prisoners, who were abducted by the intelligence agencies, the Supreme Court has shown that it is capable of holding the powerful accountable. The chief justice himself has ties to Balochistan so this might also spur him into further action.
The problem, however, is that it may already be too late. Separatist sentiment in the province is now already widespread and nationalist groups have no problem with responding to military violence with violence of their own. As long as this cycle remains unbroken there is little hope of a peaceful resolution to Balochistan’s woes. Meanwhile, the scores of people who have been spirited away to some military torture cell, or killed for no reason other than their provincial identity, will continue to be denied justice.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 17th, 2012.
COMMENTS (11)
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@Baloch loyalty: am i a foriegn spy my brother is in pakistan airforce and i am local of quetta i am too going to join army and you are indian agent the bla blows gas lines and makes people shiver in cold they make losses to balochistan they are now killing investors and scaring away tourist that flocked ziarat and quetta once
The Baloch army alone will be able to kick out those foreign spies, conspirators and their partners in crimes staging anti Pak atmosphere in order to grab resources from Pakistan. That's why Pak Army should be stationed there indefinately and not to take its eyes off Balochistan - it is their national duty towards their nation. The army should not worry about any sardars and should not trust any sardars as they may be a part of the conspiracy. Any region that gets infestated with foreign spies, terrorists and insurgents should lose its cuvillian rights and Military should take over as an absolute must!!
what abt 40000 baloch recruited in pakistan army.
It seems Pakistan's leadership has completely forgotten the ignominy of East Pakistan's secession in 1971. The only case in history of a majority seceding from the minority!. This time it is a real minority wishing to secede and the government seems to be doing it darndest to make this possible. You don't ever win when you don't win the hearts of the people and nobody seems to know how that is done. A sad reflection of the values inculcated in Pakistan over the generations. The cripples begging on street corners, the garbage flying all over the cities, the callous and arrogant attitudes of people with the poor, the rampant torture in police and military custody are all commplace. Day by day the people are getting alienated from a state that often seems to be nonexistent except by its misdoings.There is still time to wake up. The big question is-Will Pakistan wake up?
As this time several International Agencies are working in Baluchistan to destabilize Pakistan. Along with CIA , RAW, MOSAD all these agencies are try to grab natural resources of Baluchistan. They are spending a lot of money to target the Baloch people. Mostly Baloch Sardars/ Lords are the part of this planning. Punjabis or pushtun or other nations of Pakistan are not the enemy of Baloch but Baloch leaders and lords/ Sardar.
Sad Balochistan...The land of midnight doorknocks.
I am even disturbed when see or read balochistan situation. Its peak of political and military immaturity that we are going to solve our issues by using power. Facts are there that indicates our national ignorance to balochistan and other smaller provinces even, we are failed to develope properly and concentrate south Punjab. I see that we have defined pakistan that is between lahore to islamabad. Elsewhere is something like other territory. Its time to decide who or whose are responsible for such a miserable condition across the country??? We should provide health and University level education along with job facilities and industrial establishment in undeveloped areas, otherwise i am frightened to say any word about future. Negligence and social inequality always promotes disturbance and restlessness, a nation cannot afford at any cost. Should we???
We want independent Balochistan.
I think Pakistani citizens give undue respect to CJ Iftikar Chaudhary. His track record indicates, he won't stand up to the army, except when his own position is at stake.
I am not surprised that the NA dominated by majority province is not bothered by the situation in Bulochistan. However, senate which has equal representaion from each province is more truthful. I can only think of lines from Faiz: Mit gaye ge mukhloq to insaaf karoge Munsif ho to ab hashar utha kyoun nahi dete?
Time and time it has been proved that you can't brutally pummel the Baloch in to subverviance. Unfortunately it appears our Generals have habitually lacked the intelligence to appreciate this fact.