Perspectives from PLF Quetta
"What is the thing you like about Balochistan most?" asked Pakistani film actor and producer Adnan Siddiqui during a session at the Pakistan Literature Festival held at BUITEMS Quetta. "I like the Khoya of Balochistan," replied satirist Anwar Maqsood. Siddiqui and the audience went silent, knowing that Balochistan doesn’t produce that specific dairy product. Siddiqui then asked, "But Khoya is a specialty of K-P and Punjab. What do you mean by that?" The witty Anwar Maqsood clarified in his satirical tone that he was referring to the "Khoya" of Balochistan, alluding to the ones missing for years. The audience’s silence turned into a loud roar and applause, reflecting their agreement with that issue prevalent in Balochistan.
The Pakistan Literature Festival (Quetta Chapter), organised by the Arts Council of Pakistan at BUITEMS (Balochistan University of Information Technology Engineering and Management Sciences), was held for two days on the 15th and 16th of May. Thousands gathered at the Airport Road campus, which was decorated with bookstalls, artefacts, food stalls, and more. Sessions on literature, poetry, media, politics, performing arts, and other topics were conducted simultaneously in three different halls.
Anwar Maqsood’s statement came during a session when he was asked about his impression of Quetta. He wittily replied that he hadn’t found Punjabis with such happy faces as he found among the Baloch people, despite the harsh situations they face. Minutes after Maqsood’s session, the Expo Centre of BUITEMS was filled with laughter.
The next session featured mainstream politicians of Balochistan and was moderated by renowned journalist Saleem Safi. The panel included former Chief Minister of Balochistan Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch, former MPA and Senator Sanaullah Baloch of BNP (Balochistan National Party), former Provincial Minister Abdul Raheem Ziaratwal of PkMAP (Pashtunkhuwa Milli Awami Party), Provincial Finance Minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani, Minister of Planning and Development Mir Zahoor Buledi, and Spokesperson of the Balochistan Government Shahid Rind.
The laughing crowd then turned serious as the session's topic shifted to the relationship between the federation and Balochistan. "I feel the panel didn’t discuss anything near the topic," said Shahid Rind, a former journalist turned spokesperson for the Balochistan Government. His comment followed the panellists’ varied discussions. Dr. Malik said, "The biggest issue facing Balochistan is insurgency, missing persons, and the violation of the right to vote." Sanaullah Baloch highlighted systemic exploitation, stating, "The cosmetically created assembly and leadership cannot resolve the issues of Balochistan until a new process of dialogue is initiated." Raheem Ziaratwal cited historical developments and military interventions, noting that the person who gave the country its constitution was not protected by it. Shoaib Nosherwani pointed to non-functional local bodies as the problem, while Zahoor Buledi attributed it to the representation of historical perspectives through a specific narrative, adding, "We all sitting here are beneficiaries; we should sell the narrative of deprivation."
Towards the end, when panellists from nationalist parties stressed the need for dialogue, Shahid Rind asked, "Dialogue, ok!!! But with whom? With the ones sitting in Europe? With the ones who have picked up arms? Or with the ones protesting for basic amenities of life like water and electricity on the roads?"
Earlier, a session titled “Khushal Balochistan, Mustekham Pakistan” emphasised the importance of Balochistan's progress for Pakistan’s prosperity. Saleem Safi, one of the panellists, remarked, "If reconciliation with other states is possible, then dialogue with our own citizens shouldn’t be a problem." He also discussed the development model of western China, which used resources from the eastern part of China through proper resource allocation and planning, suggesting it as a model for Balochistan. He further stated, "The ones causing hindrances in the progress of Balochistan are not just enemies of Balochistan but of Pakistan."
Fawad Hassan Fawad, an ex-bureaucrat and ex-caretaker federal minister, blamed the civil bureaucracy for the hindrances, urging the bureaucrats in Islamabad to change their attitude towards Balochistan. However, civil servant and scholar Hafeez Jamali highlighted the unequal share of Balochistan in the federation, sharing relevant statistics.
The session concluded with a general consensus that youth engagement and better behaviour towards Balochistan are essential to end the people's miseries.
In a completely different seminar hall, a session on Media Literacy and Critical Thinking in Balochistan took place. Attendees walked through a long corridor decorated with bookstalls and a karaoke system where enthusiasts sang Pashto songs. The panellists for this session included MPA Jamal Raisani, former caretaker minister of sports and youth affairs in Balochistan, Babrak Niaz, head of the Media Department at Balochistan University, and Hamza Shafqaat, Commissioner of Quetta Division.
"In this age of artificial intelligence, people are living in their echo chambers, reinforcing the narratives to which they are exposed," said Commissioner Shafqaat. He highlighted the increasing polarisation, stressing that it would further exacerbate existing issues. Jamal Raisani advocated for transparency in government departments, urging that they become more functional and ensure information is readily available on their websites. Meanwhile, Babrak Niaz called for the state to fulfill its responsibilities and implement integration measures to combat societal polarisation, stating, "The future is AI."
At the end of the session, a young attendee stood up and loudly questioned, "Mr. Jamal, you are advocating for modern means while the powers that be say those hiding behind social media should come forward. What should we do?" The session concluded with this unresolved question.
On the second day of the festival, multiple sessions were scheduled, ranging from Higher Education to discussions on literary figures like Syed Zahoor Shah Hashmi. A notable debate occurred during a session on Performing Arts, featuring legendary personalities like Jamal Shah, Noor-ul-Huda Shah, Ayub Khoso, and Zafar Mairaj.
The panellists reminisced about the past when drama and film stories focused on identity and land. However, Noor-ul-Huda Shah criticised past representations as tokenistic and highlighted that many stories were about those who attacked the land. "Now, commercialisation has led filmmakers to chase popular stories, creating a disconnect from identity and the land," she said, describing this as a deliberate attempt to keep people away from their issues and stories.
Zafar Mairaj pointed out that stories shape societal behaviour and criticised the commercial culture for sidelining stories related to identity. Ayub Khoso agreed, stating, "The stories of 43 per cent of Pakistan are missing from the mainstream discourse." Jamal Shah, humorously calling Zafar Mairaj an "A-Political artist," noted that stories about people and identity are often unacceptable to those in power.
Collectively, the panellists agreed that contemporary performing arts are driven by commercial needs rather than focusing on the stories and issues of the people.
Chief Minister Sarfaraz was also among the attendees of the session that followed the one on performing arts, focusing on the "Role of National Media in Balochistan." Moderated by Absa Komal, the panel included renowned journalists Mazhar Abbas, Shahzaib Jillani, Rifat Saeed, Saleem Shahid, Shehzada Zulfiqar, and Shahid Rind.
In response to a question about Balochistan's complaint of low coverage in the national media, Mazhar Abbas stated, "It is not a complaint but reality, and you know what the reality is? Balochistan went missing from the mainstream." The crowd cheered loudly. He added, "You know what else is missing from Balochistan? Education, health, everything." Mazhar highlighted the numerous journalists who have been killed in the line of duty but noted that violence hasn't ended journalism in the region. He stressed that media houses should protect and stand by their workers.
Shahzaib Jillani emphasised the prevailing obsession with controlling the narrative. "There is an insurgency going on, and in that, the journalist of this zone is not in a messed up situation from one side, but he is trapped from both sides." He suggested that the state's obsession with controlling the narrative has influenced media behaviour towards Balochistan and warned that continued state interference could diminish the remains of democracy.
Shahid Rind, the spokesperson of the Balochistan Government, remarked that the issue isn't reporting but reporting one side of the story. "Despite my friendship with CM Sarfaraz, when I served as a journalist, I raised tough questions." He stressed that journalism and activism should remain distinct, cautioning journalists not to become activists.
Shehzada Zulfiqar argued that the media shouldn't be called national if one federating unit is absent. He cited a past incident when Nawabzada Siraj Raisani and his supporters were killed in a suicide bombing on the same day former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned from London. "The national media was all invested in the return of Mr. Sharif, and this huge incident was not given coverage until a condemnation came from ISPR and later when the Army Chief announced his attendance at the funeral prayers," he said.
Saleem Shahid noted that Balochistan has been treated like a tehsil rather than a proper federating unit. He pointed out that even the Chief Minister of the province receives token coverage in the mainstream media. "They closed down their bureaus in Balochistan," he lamented. Saleem suggested that decentralisation of media houses is necessary and advised journalists in Balochistan to adhere to journalistic ethics and engage in smart reporting, asserting that space for reporting can be created.
Rifat Saeed also criticised the national media's attitude towards Balochistan, noting that the advertisement-driven approach of media houses results in minimal representation for areas with less advertising potential.
Chief Minister Balochistan Sarfaraz Bugti also addressed the audience, discussing a range of topics from historical perspectives to contemporary challenges. Bugti emphasised the importance of engaging with youth through events like the PLF and thanked the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi for bringing it to Quetta. He announced that the next festival would be held in Gwadar. He stressed the state's readiness for reconciliation but observed that certain factions shun dialogue in favour of civil disobedience. He highlighted the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) as a root cause of Balochistan's challenges, stating, "If BUITEMS were to research Balochistan's PSDP, it would enlighten our youth about how schemes are added arbitrarily."
"Today's youth grapples with poor governance and distorted perceptions that cloud the reality of the Balochistan situation," Bugti asserted. He reiterated the government's dedication to fostering constructive dialogues with youth and improving governance and service delivery. Highlighting the dearth of investigative journalism and media neglect, he questioned, "Who will educate our youth about history, which is full of instances of state forgiveness and reconciliation with dissident elements?"
In a definitive statement, Bugti pledged to the youth, "Henceforth, not a single job will be sold. Appointments will be based solely on merit. I pledge to uphold this principle, even at the risk of losing my position."
On the entertainment side, the festival included mainstream personalities such as Mahira Khan, Yasir Hussain, Adnan Siddiqui, and Bushra Ansari, many of whom visited Quetta for the first time and promised to return. Renowned poets in Balochi, Bravhi, Pashto, Hazargi, and Urdu held mushairas on both days.
Although the music element was missing, reportedly cancelled out of respect for Palestine, the youth still danced to various beats, from “Kadam-Kadam Rawan Bebay,” the famous poetry of Gul Khan Naseer, to many Pashto songs played on loudspeakers. Even Bushra Ansari, who sang without music, mentioned, “I will bring my own band next time.” If a musical event had been included, it is hoped the organisers would have considered contemporary young artists from Balochistan.
A critique of the festival could note the absence of a session on student politics, especially since the theme was “Youth is the way forward.” The de-politicisation of university campuses has led to many challenges and contributed to the hijacking of mainstream politics by businessmen and interest-driven groups. A session on the glorious days of student politics in Pakistan and the challenge of its revival would have been valuable.
Furthermore, there were few sessions that included question-and-answer segments. If the aim is to engage with youth, their questions should be taken into consideration. Time management and potentially extending the festival from two to three days, while reducing the number of sessions, would be tasks for the organisers. However, youth engagement must prioritise genuine interaction.
Overall, the festival brought together different facets of society. Balochistan needs such events, but they shouldn’t be limited to the capital.
Mohammad Zafar Baloch is a freelance journalist based in Quetta
All facts and information are the sole responsibility of the writer