Former chief minister Jan Jamali brought up the only silver lining: he hoped that thousands of jobless Baloch people would benefit from the project. PHOTO: FILE
However, a spokesperson for the Balochistan government set aside the claim that the Baloch people and Balochistan government were not consulted. He added that under the Constitution, the federal government controls ports in the country, including Gwadar Port.
He also referred to a previous statement by the provincial governor Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi that he had made on the eve of the signing of the contract, where he said, “the benefits of the Gwadar Port should first be given to the people of Balochistan.”
When the 18th Amendment was made to the Constitution in 2010, the provinces were given more powers. But for matters that were important for the federation or the country as a whole, such as ports and shipping or water, a Council of Common Interests (CCI) would make decisions.
And so, the council, which consists of the four chief ministers and the prime minister, should have taken the decision on the fate of the port, argues Sajid Tareen of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal. His stand was backed by Tahir Bizenjo of the Balochistan National Party.
Baloch leaders such as themselves are now referring to Article 154 (1) of the Constitution that lists federal matters that should be taken up by the council. “Decisions on the major ports are entirely a subject in the CCI domain,” Tareen insisted. “Major ports are included in Part 11 of the Federal Legislative List. With this decision, the federal government has denied the people of Balochistan constitutionally guaranteed provincial autonomy.”
The defunct Baloch Republican Party (BRP), led by Brahamdagh Bugti, and Balochistan National Party-Awami headed by federal minister Mir Israrullah Zehri also resent the move without, what they say, taking the government of Balochistan into confidence.
“The federal government did not consider it essential to consult the Baloch people before taking this decision,” said Dr Bashir Azeem, a spokesperson for Bugti. “It didn’t even bother to seek advice from the so-called nationalists who are its ruling allies.”
On another note, many of the Baloch leaders said they apprehend serious political and strategic implications. Dr Azeem said that the federal government has once again established that it will continue to exploit the natural resources of the Baloch people for Islamabad. “The BRP will never compromise on the economic rights of the already deprived people of Balochistan,” he added.
Dr Nashanas Lehri, the media coordinator for BNP-A, added that the decision would make it more difficult to restore peace in the province.
The leaders are afraid of reprisals from major regional powers whose economic and strategic interests seem to have been threatened by the deal. But they hastened to clarify that they had nothing against China itself. The Awami National Party president in Balochistan, Aurangzeb Kasi, said, for instance, that their protest was not directed against China. They felt that this step was against the spirit of the provincial autonomy. “China, being our neighbour, has played a significant role in the development of Pakistan and Balochistan,” said Kasi. “That’s why we think that the federal government’s decision should have been taken with the support of the Baloch people.”
Former chief minister Jan Jamali brought up the only silver lining: he hoped that thousands of jobless Baloch people would benefit from the project. He said: “We are only interested in our 50% share from the profit that Islamabad will make from the port business.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 4th, 2013.
COMMENTS (15)
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@Nasir Mahmood- thanks for correction
@Abdullah , whatever the case be the last transaction was that the government purchased it from Oman for a Significant Compensation , If the world worked as you think it should, than whole indo-pak-afgan-iran was ruled by mughals earlier :)!
Long live Paksitan
there is no Balochistan only pakistan
I still feel that people from other parts do not know about Balochistan or are biased in their comments despite the history of what has happened with the natural resources of the province. Have we ever got any benefits from these large 'resource extraction projects' in the history of Pakistan? The answer is No. How can we suddenly expect that we will be given the due share in not only profits but deciding on matters that affect the people?
Gawadar is part of Balochistan now. People of Balochistan have every right to decide about their fate and should have been consulted in true spirit. I agree that the current corrupt politicians are not true representatives of Balochistan because most of the nationalists boycotted the previous elections and the current provincial assembly and ministers were given free hand to make money on the condition of not interfering in security matters and let the army do whatever they want (and we all know what they did to people there). Pakistanis have the habit of link every national political matter with strategic interests (which fits the narrative of Mullas and the military). In the name of countering Iran, US etc, they will use this argument to continue doing what they have been doing for past 65 years to Balochistan and the people who live there. This will further alienate Baloch people who have been pushed to wall for decades now.
now expect more bullet filled balochis bodies.
So basically India, USA and Baloch tribal chiefs have one stance on the issue. Unfortunate!!
Please keep in mind which country is turning white with rage at the handing over of the Gwadar Port to the Chinese and the Iran Pakistan Pipeline. As soon as the pipeline project starts, we will read more statements from these so-called Baloch 'leaders'
@Imdad: Who gave Gwadar to Sultanate of Oman? it was Khan Of Kalat gave it to Oman's Saiad Sultan when he was defeated in Muscat for free how can somebody buy something back that belong to somebody else
all such assets belong to federal government, so dont act like a crying chiled,,and its in the best interest the country in current situation,,,
How about the Baloch leaders focus on developing their province for the prime welfare of Balochis' first, then raise objections over the concession for development of Gwadar later.
Baloch leaders have neglected the Balochis', and exploited their negative sentiments towards the system in their favor. Middle class (if there are any) or lower class Balochis' need to break the shackles of the feudalistic nature of their province, stand-up and raise their concerns themselves, or else they have no future existing in an underdeveloped region.
Also, they should understand that the development of Balochistan is unfavorable for the Balochi leaders, for development would lead to awareness and awareness would lead to enlightenment, and enlightenment would lead to a challenge to the existing state of affairs of Balochistan.
@Imdad: Please correct yourself, Gawadar was taken from Oman during Feroze Khan Noon's Government.
To Baloch Leaders: Try to think about the prosperity this will bring to the people of Balochistan and the people of Pakistan. If your pockets allow, please think about your people as well.
Why Balochistan government is raising objections on this issue or is this going to be proven true by raising this objection on the handing over the Gwadar Port to China that as usual has been said in the past by the Bugti tribal chief said that if any one gives us aid we can separate from Pakistan?
‘Gwadar port handover breaches Constitution’
who cares,as long as they have guns and weapons to fight India, they are the most advanced and most sophisticated country on the planet. Doesn't matter if the constitution is being violated, doesn't matter if the whole country is being sold out to other powers for shining new weapons. What matters is whether they have weapons and atomic bomb. end of the story.
Let me remind the so called respectable Baloch leaders, that this is property of Federal Government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, as the area of Gwadar was purchased by the Federal Government from Sultane of Oman in 1950s by Ayub Khan.
So there is no point in crying!