ISLAMABAD: Former chief minister Balochistan Akhtar Mengal on Friday openly blamed the agencies and military for the plight of his people and recommended peaceful separation of the province if the Baloch people were not going to be considered citizens of Pakistan.
Mengal was briefing the media after his meeting with Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad.
“If the Balochistan situation is to be resolved, then that force which, in the last 65 years has governed this country, acted as masters instead of servants of this country, invisibly and visibly ran the country, considered themselves above the country’s constitution, law, people and the people’s representatives … should be harnessed,” he said.
He said that they had tried but failed and were now hopeless.
Mengal asked for his six recommendations to be implemented and said if this was not done, Balochistan would have to part ways.
Thanking the Supreme Court for taking a suo motu in this case, he said that none of the six points were contradictory to the constitution.
Answering a question posed during today’s hearing on the Balochistan case, he said: “Those people cannot be trusted, the whole world knows their reality,” adding that they even denied having “derailed democracy in the darkness of the night”.
Mengal regrettably said that Balochistan’s people were never considered citizens of Pakistan because if they had been, the atrocities committed against them would not have transpired.
In the same spirit, he posed a question to the civil society of the country.
“We want to know if Baloch people will be accepted as citizens of this country or not and if not, then it is better to part ways peacefully than to continue this bloodshed,” he said.
On boycotting local elections, Mengal simply said: “No country in the world holds elections during war and Balochistan has been in a state of war for 12 years.”
Another East Pakistan?
Nawaz Sharif requested the entire nation to learn from history so that another episode of East Pakistan was not repeated.
“People need to put their heads together and think what has alienated the people of Balochistan; the reasons, atrocities and the situation that made them think of this [separation],” he said.
Sharif said that even then, six points had been presented, the disregard of which had resulted in Bangladesh.
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We should analyse the situation indepth, why the Military has been interfering with the Political Governments, almost all the political parties have charge sheet of corruption against them keeping in view this impediment no political party thinks to confront with the Military or even with the bureaucrats of the country for the reason they know that they will be of great help to them in the smoothly flow of daily affairs which also involves rights and wrongs. Now again there is strong demand from PPP party to allow dual nationality holders to contest the upcoming National Elections.If anyone who so likes the Pakistan then he should opt for the Pakistani nationality for good. Now with the latest ruling of Supreme Court of Pakistan only Pakistan Nationality Holders can contest the general elections in Pakistan. with this ruling besides others the entire Bhutto family is likely to be affected, now they can not sail on two boats at a time, they will have to surrender their foreign nationality if they are so keen to the serve the Nation
Unfortunately the military is too powerful in Pakistan and once you give any segment of society too much power, they will fight tooth and nail if you want them back in their barracks. The tragedy is that anyone with influence in Pakistan can be easily bought with foreign money and foreign passports.
@Simon Khan: Rights of the citizen should be given to them irrespective of their origin/province. Such tape of anomalies are also prevailing in other provinces, but the situation in the Baluchistan has been worsen due to out side interference. I am of the firm view that the missing persons might have been kidnapped by the foreign insurgents actively working against Pakistan thus creating hatred between Law Enforcement Agencies and the people of Baluchistan. Our Baluch brothers should learn lesson from the war torn Muslims countries in which they got nothing but war miseries. Under the circumstances I appeal to the Government to open the door of dialoque with all the stake holders and settle the matter of Baluchistan amicably
@Simon Khan: Rights of the citizen should be given to them irrespective of their origin/province. Such tape of anomalies are also prevailing in other provinces, but the situation in the Baluchistan has worsen due to out side interference. I am of the firm view that the missing might have been kidnapped by the foreign insurgents actively working against Pakistan thus creating hatred between Law Enforcement Agencies and the people of Baluchistan.
Never ever disobey the 6 point charter or 6 point, if disobeyed country be broken, learn your lesson from Bangladesh.
Baloch r not in majority in Balochistan. Balochistan was and is a Pashtun majority area.
Balochs are Arabs and they came in late 9th Century and now telling the locals that they are settlers while they are originals. Balochs are themselves Migrants and they are not even a Part of Indus Valley CIvilization if their theory of Arab connection is true Also just visit Islamabad and see the Daughters and Sons of Baloch leaders enjoying like Crazy and then talking like that. These Sardars are power hungry and they could go to any length to secure their power.
Mengal has the right to take a tough stance, his people are the victimized party here. It was also genuinely refreshing to see Nawaz Shariff with Mengal, lets hope different Baluch groups agree to a political solution.
This is also a fitting retort to many individuals here who kept on mocking the supreme court of Pakistan, the court delivered! It speaks volumes about the court's credibility where Mengal appeared in court while he had earlier refused the invitation from current Govt.
Very reasonable demands I would say, but only if the Bloch insurgents agree to lay their arms afterwards and guarantee not to kill the innocent non-Blochis living in the province.
@abdullah abbas: Baluchistan has been going through an era of uncertainty. There is no doubt that the foreign powers are deeply involved in the present turbulent situation prevailing in the province.Some foreign elements/insurgents were also caught. Members of the Hazara ethnics group is being made target of the hidden forces, beside this many people are being killed on daily basis. Who is behind these killings. Are they local or foreign agents who are doing the damage and the blame game is on the law enforcement agencies and nobody is taking notice of the provocative statement speeches of the certain leaders. Yes if there is case it should be dealt in accordance with the law. I agree with the Mr. Akhter Mengal major reason of unrest started during the regime of General Pervaiz Musharaaf. I also fail to understand why the Baluchistan package is not being implemented in letter and spirit.All their genuine rights should be given to them without loss of time. While blaming any Government institution we should also take into account the foreign hand involved in killing of the innocent people of Pakistan and blaming the Govt agencies. All the stake holders of the Baluchistan must take into account the secret hostile activities of our enemy instead of creating an atmosphere of hatred in the province among different ethnic groups. Under the circumstances I request my Baluchee friends to take into account all the aspect of the missing persons including foreign hand involved in such cases. They are here to create unrest hatred and damage the unity of the people. Such forces have already harmed many muslim countries in the Middle East and their worth has become to zero from all aspects.
Political leadership has also failed to resovle situation in Balochistan. As it offers less seats, the tend to ignore the issue. Shame on the so called political leaders, only providing lip service but nothing else. There is no issue that can not be resolved. Everything within the law, should be listened and accepted to desires of Balochistan people.
We are stronger together!
When Abbasid took power from Umayyad they faced a very serious problem, they declared themselves rightful inheritor of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) but when sons of Hazrat Hassan and Hussein rose against Abbasid they made a mistake by awarding Iranian and Turkish nobles important post in central government. Later on these nobles made their independent governments in Central Asia and present day Afghanistan and caused unbearable loses to central government of Baghdad. What we can do in current difficult political times in Pakistan and particularly in Balochistan, There should be election in every town and village of Pakistan and a village or town head should represent his village or town. There should be political head of every city of Pakistan. Government should give Royalties to the people of particular area and not to ‘Sardar’. Musharraf should be hanged for his crime against people of Pakistan.
Who would harness the killing squads of BLA, BRA, BLUF, BNF and the likes. What is the take of Akhter Mengal on attacking and killing of Pashtun Labour thrice in two months. All said and done, Balochistan is not about Balochs. Pre 1970, Baloch was an unknown community in Quetta. If I am wrong, they should show a single grave yard where their ancestors are burried in Quetta. Today they challenge the existance of settlers who were living here much before Balochs had roamed the streets of Quetta. As a Pashtun, I know, punjabies are much older residents of this Quetta than the Balochs.
Military rule is responsible for all these ills.God save Pakistan. Even now our politicians are least concerned to the grave problem we are facing.
It would be better to first understand the ground realities and grievness of the people of baluchistan then comment. I Agree with Mr. Akhtar Mangal and in response to his question, i would like to says, We are dully accept the Baluch brothers as a pakistan and accept their full right on all the resources of pakistan, as other people do have. We have strong feelings and attachment and condemn all the bloodshed going on there. On the other hand, i would also request Mr. Akhtar Mengal to create a harmonay and consensus in the Baluchistan and asks the youth to visit the pakistan & see, how much people of pakistan do have love for them, specially the Punjabi despite the fact that, there are target killing in baluchistan for them.
@Solomon2, that was the only point you got from the article?
“No country in the world holds elections during war and Balochistan has been in a state of war for 12 years.”
The British held elections during WWII. The U.S. holds elections during its wars and did so even during its Civil War. Wars are not meant to interrupt elections; rather, they provide an ideal opportunity for the electorate to hold its leaders responsible.