‘It is not wrong for the Siraikis and people of Hazara to demand independent units’

Issues pertaining to Balochistan and FATA highlighted at an assembly.

ABBOTTABAD:

It is okay for Siraikis and Hazarewal to demand independent units of their own. After all, Pakistan was formed on the basis of differences, according to Dr Ishaq Baloch of the Balochistan National Party.

“We should accept diversity and fight the mindset of the establishment,” he said here on Saturday at the first session of “Peoples Sovereignty and Security; Way Forward”. The session primarily dealt with issues pertaining to Balochistan and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and was part of the three-day annual Omar Asghar Khan Awami Assembly 2011 that started on Friday.

Besides Dr Baloch, Justice Nasira Iqbal and Zahir Shah Safi of the Fata Reforms Movement (FRM) also spoke at the session.

Dr Baloch highlighted the plight of Balochis by voicing three basic concerns: little or no economic sovereignty, largest number of missing persons, and political deprivation. He said there are two classes of people in Balochistan, those who deny the state of Pakistan and those who accept it.

He emphasised the need to separate religion and state, and demanded an explanation about the war on Bugtis as well as the thousands of internally displaced persons in the province. He added that most of the missing persons in the country are from Balochistan.

He said people are quick to label Balochis as traitors but it should be kept in mind that they were foremost in representing Pakistan’s cause; without them Pakistan would have not existed. He emphasised the importance of democracy, saying, “The worst form of democracy is better than martial law.”

To emphasize the injustice done to Balochistan, he said, “If even expenditure equivalent to Wah Cantt was spent on the province, the situation would not have spiralled out of control.”

He termed the 18th Amendment a big landmark in Pakistan’s history as prior to this Balochistan was never given constitutional rights by the government. However, he did not favour finishing intra-party democracy and said that we should strive to develop it and bring the middle class into the mainstream.

Safi said the foremost concern for Fata is the absence of any provisions for legislation in the constitution regarding the area. Emphasising on governance, he said, Article 246 and 247, which pertain to the tribal areas, give a special status to Fata - “no act of Parliament shall apply to any Federally Administered Tribal Area or to any part thereof, unless the President so directs” -- due to which no action can be taken against injustices.

He stressed the need to eliminate Frontier Crime Liberation act. He that people of Fata are “crying out” for the establishment of a just system as no institute represents them and the 12 Members of National Assembly selected from the region do nothing for the people. “Fata should have local governments along with Fata council,” he said.

He added, “There should be a judicial system, there is no economic development, worse there is no system that can utilise funds.”

He said women education had practically ended in Fata; the locals do not avail scholarships meant for Fata, which are then taken up by people with Fata domiciles living elsewhere in the country.

The first session was followed by an intensive question and answer session during which Tahira Abdullah, a social activist, commented on the hostile situation in Balochistan said, “As a non-Baloch, I have been consistently demanded since 1984 that the army and the Pakistani government apologise to the Balochis.”

She added we should own up to our mistakes with regard to the separation of the eastern wing and apologise to the Bangladeshis as well. She said, “The prime minister’s claim of restoring the 1973 constitution is a lie until the 8th amendment is repealed.”

Justice Nasira Iqbal said that since 1947 many atrocities and injustices have been committed toward the people of Balochistan. She said, “Only apologizing to the Balochis would not suffice, action has to follow that apology.”

Omar Asghar Khan Awami Assembly is a regular feature that brings eminent personalities from all over the country to advocate humanitarian causes and enhance support for marginalised groups. Referring to the assembly, Executive Director Samina Khan said it is an example of how Sungi brings together experts and the public for exchange of thought and ideas.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2011.