The government must hasten and address the grave injustices and gross human rights violations in Balochistan.
TURBAT: Historically, every successive government, despite making empty promises for the stability and welfare of Balochistan, has either disappointed the Baloch or pushed them into demonstrating against the state’s monstrous atrocities. The assassination of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti in 2006 was a turning point which further worsened the situation in Balochistan.
Moreover, after being elected chief minister of Balochistan, Dr Abdul Malik made a number of promises saying that his topmost priority would be to recover the missing persons. However, even though a year has passed since this government took the reins, the killing and kidnapping of the Baloch has continued. Instead of halting barbarism against the Baloch, the government is busy unearthing mass graves. This state of affairs is doing little to correct the trust deficit.
On the other hand, for quite some time now, another issue seems to have cropped up in Balochistan. A number of private educational institutions were forcibly closed and the owners of some are being threatened. This has disturbed the education sector and caused much disaffection among Baloch students. Some bookshops have been forbidden from selling Balochi books in the Gwadar and Kech areas. As representatives of media organisations are usually not present in these areas owing to security reasons, these issues never make it to the ‘mainstream discourse’. This is nothing short of an embarrassment; something which can only be dubbed as an insult to democracy.
The Baloch are already very disappointed in the administration. The government must hasten and address the grave injustices and gross human rights violations in Balochistan.
Saba Baloch
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2014.
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