The next general elections may be boycotted by all Baloch nationalist parties as pressure builds from separatist groups to abandon parliamentary politics.
“There is a big question mark on whether nationalist groups of Balochistan will participate in the elections,” Senator Shahid Hassan Bugti of the Jamhoori Wattan Party (JWP) told The Express Tribune.
“It does not matter whether nationalist politicians agree with the ideology and demands of the separatists. The fact is they have sympathies for those in the mountains,” said Bugti, whose party also boycotted the 2008 polls.
“Personally, I am disappointed by the way nationalist parties in parliament are being dealt with,” he said, echoing the sentiments of other Baloch parliamentarians.
His comments came after a resolution in the US House of Representatives seeking liberation for Balochistan put the volatile province in the limelight again.
The government has announced it will hold an all parties conference to explore how the unrest in Balochistan can be ended politically. However, there has so far been no breakthrough in the government’s efforts to lure nationalist leaders to the negotiating table.
Experts fear the sense of alienation among ordinary Baloch can aggravate if nationalists decide to abandon parliamentary politics, a move that will surely give a boost to the separatist struggle.
“Demands for separatism will increase if political parties in the parliament decide to quit. Although there was widespread boycott last time, they never tried to alienate themselves from mainstream politics,” said Zafarullah Khan, a political analyst based in Islamabad.
Affirmative steps are needed to save the country’s energy heartlands from drifting further into chaos, he added.
“It is important that all Baloch nationalist parties participate in the upcoming elections. It actually makes their case stronger if they win. Remember Awami League sweeping across East Pakistan in 1970,” said political analyst Harris Khalique.
Bugti said that even if Baloch nationalists participate in the coming elections it will not bring any change to the situation on ground.
Although he did not explicitly admit that separatists were lobbying to convince nationalists to stay away from Islamabad’s politics, some other leaders said they are doing it with all means.
“They (separatists) are doing their best to keep us away from election. They are using their connections within the tribes and in some cases even threatening people,” said a member of the Balochistan Nationalist Party-Mengal.
The BNP (Mengal) leader, who did not wish to be named, said Akhtar had promised separatist groups that he would never take any decision that could hurt the struggle for the rights of the Baloch. “He will stand by his word,” he added.
(Read: Time to makes amends)
Published in The Express Tribune, February 27th, 2012.
COMMENTS (8)
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@Baloch: Libya and Syria are not fighting for separation but to get rid of their rulers.
I think, this is the time that nationalist parties must show to the media by taking part in elections that how much support do they have in general public. I personally feel it is only 10% of whole Balochistan's population, or may be less than that. However if these parties claim more than that, then they must prove be taking part in next elections.
@ Usman
So far Pakistani's and their leaders in the parliment have supported the seperatist movement in Libya and Syria and supported the US resolution in the UN for the same.
Would they do the same for Balochistan?
How ironic it would be if Syria supports the Balochistan sepratist movement in the UN.
First of all in the absence of Civilian Supremacy any system doesn't deserve to be called a Democracy. In that light, what does it matter if few parties contest or not.
Pakistan doesn't have the money to bring about any change to Balochistan, nor the political will and capability. Things in Balochistan will only get worse.
This is what I call Karma!
Pakistanis should not be swayed by doomsday scare mongering of anti state elements who are the payroll of foreign agencies. The way forward to to accelerate development including infrastructure and education in Baluchistan. The overwhelming majority of Pakistanis including those from Baluchistan want to see real development in Baluchistan. Breaking the hold of a few anti state sardars on the Indian payroll will be accomplished when people have access to education, jobs and opportunity. Most Baluchis and most sardars are pro Pakistani so the nation should just keep working to better Baluchistan- not pander to fear mongering by self serving politicians.