Cacophony and silence: Govt unfazed by US hearing on Balochistan

Prime minister hears parliamentarians’ concerns, leaves without a response.

ISLAMABAD:

The hearing on Balochistan in Washington sparked a sense of urgency among some in parliament, but was unable to solicit a response from the government.

Obsessed with securing support for its chronically deferred 20th Amendment, postponed for a seventh time, the government paid little heed to questions raised by lawmakers on Balochistan’s volatile situation in the National Assembly session on Friday.

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani heard the points of orders raised by members from Balochistan, but left the house without issuing any response.

“Why is the prime minister not responding to the issue [of Balochistan],” asked ruling Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) lawmaker from the province, Mir Humayun Aziz Kurd.

“Tell us in clear terms why the army is not accepting [the Baloch people] so that we could take a decision … in case we are unacceptable,” Kurd said.

He suggested the government take immediate and concrete steps to address grievances of the province, instead of mere commitments.

“What is the contribution of the special committee [headed by PPP leader Syed Khursheed Shah] in addressing the issues of Balochistan,” Kurd added.

He also demanded the elimination of the role of security and intelligence agencies from the province.

Kurd was seconded by Yaqoob Bizanjo who asked the premier if he had any plan to bring peace to Balochistan.

“You have to tell us before it is too late and we are no more in this house,” he said.

Bizanjo added that “none of the political parties took an initiative to resolve the issue of Balochistan as they did in developing consensus over constitutional amendments.”

Bushra Gohar from the Awami National Party questioned the efficacy of the parliamentary committee on the province: “The issue of Balochistan is being discussed in the US; what are our committees doing in this regard?”

The only government functionary to respond was Interior Minister Rehman Malik who offered to give a briefing to parliamentarians about the status of the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan package, the role of Frontier Constabulary (FC) and other related issues next week.

Malik said his statement of asking Senator Lashkar Raisani to make disgruntled youth lay down their arms was misconstrued, and that it meant to give a ‘good message’ to the public.

MQM seeks explanation from ANP

Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Dr Farooq Sattar asked ANP’s Ilyas Bilour to explain his statement wherein the latter claimed that ANP had reined in the MQM in Karachi.

“Bilour confessed at a television talk show that ANP’s Sindh leadership was involved in killing of MQM workers and other people in previous years … and for having done so, they are being prized with party ticket for Senate elections,” Sattar said.

He demanded an apology from Bilour and asked the government and the Supreme Court to take notice.

Responding to the MQM leader, Bushra Gohar said that the ANP does not believe in what was alleged and that the MQM must recognise her party’s sacrifices in Karachi.

Earlier, Zafar Baig Bhittani raised his voice against the recent spate of drone attacks in tribal areas.

“The government swung into action after the deaths of 24 jawans of establishment but there is no response after the deaths of tribal people,” he said.

Meanwhile, Law Minister Moula Bakhsh Chandio said the government would table the 20th Amendment Bill on February 14 (Tuesday).

Balochistan hearing ill-advised: Sherry

Pakistan’s ambassador to US Sherry Rehman forcefully raised the issue of an exclusive hearing on Balochistan by a House Foreign Affairs sub-committee during a meeting with senior US administration officials and members of Congress, according to a Pakistani embassy spokesperson in Washington.

Ambassador Rehman said the government of Pakistan strongly rejects the purpose and findings of the hearing and considers it an “ill-advised and ill-considered” move that will have serious repercussions for Pakistan-US relations.

She claimed the hearing was marked by a “blatant disregard for history and inflammatory use of selective facts,” according to the spokesperson.

Balochistan is an integral part of the Pakistani federation, the ambassador said, adding that the Pakistan government is committed to protecting fundamental rights and freedoms in all parts of Pakistan, including Balochistan, and has initiated an extensive package of constitutional and other reforms to empower its citizens.

“This kind of exercise constitutes interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs. The hearing will add to suspicions in Pakistan about the US motives in the region,” the Pakistani envoy said, adding that it is deeply regrettable that the legislature of a country that calls itself a friend of Pakistan should allow itself to be used as a platform by those advocating the dismemberment of Pakistan.

(Read: A hearing on Balochistan)

With additional input from APP

Published in The Express Tribune, February 11^th, 2012.