Balochistan conflict: ‘Nawaz success hinges on army’s consent’

The PML-N chief can play a vital role if he could satisfy the establishment.

ISLAMABAD:

While the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has backed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif’s proposal for an all-party conference (APC) to resolve Balochistan’s issues, the success of the conference depends “on the mood of the military establishment”, Friends of Baloch (FoB) president Amanullah Gichki said.

Nawaz can play a pivotal role in bringing peace to the province, however it is all subject to the establishment’s consent, he said.

He, however, pointed out that Nawaz’s recent visit to Quetta should be viewed in the context of his ‘visible change of heart’ towards the military establishment.

While the FoB president was all praise for the APC initiative, he did express his doubt over the PML-N chief’s ability to resolve the years-long conflict in the province, saying the chances of that happening were very bleak unless Nawaz was able to satisfy the establishment in this regard.

Nawaz, on the other hand, is largely counting on Baloch tribal chiefs such as Jhalawan chief Sardar Sanaullah Zehri who was recently appointed PML-N Balochistan chapter’s president. What the PML-N chief fails to understand, is that tribal chiefs and sardars cannot arrive at an amicable solution to Balochistan’s issues without the consensus of the people of Balochistan, Gichki said. Had tribal chiefs been in a position to resolve these issues, they would’ve done so ages ago, he remarked.

To strengthen his point, Gichki referred to the recent statement made by former chief minister of Balochistan Sardar Attaullah Khan Mengal during his meeting with Nawaz, when he had cautioned that the angry Baloch youth are no longer under the control of the Baloch politicians.

Referring to Zehri’s appointment, Gichki said that for the PML-N to pick him in preference over Nawabzada Changaiz Marri, the eldest son of Nawab Khair Baksh Marri, is not likely to affect the party’s influence in Balochistan.

Some political observers, however, do not share Gichki’s views. Nawaz should not solely depend on Baloch tribal chiefs to bring peace in the province, a senior Baloch journalist argues.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2012.