Bringing the Baloch in
It'll be a step forward when Balochistan people elect candidates as party flags, colours flow in fresh political air.
The writer is professor of political science at LUMS rasul.rais@tribune.com.pk
One of the functions of elections is to resolve conflicts. Intractable issues like representation, rights of regions and peoples and clashing claims over distribution of resources require representatives to negotiate with. Balochistan is inflicted with many problems because of almost a decade of insurgency that former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s tunnel vision and dictatorial mindset ignited. Political transition from Musharraf’s rule to an elected government had raised some faint hope that the problem of Balochistan would be resolved. Nothing constructive happened except the passing of the Eighteenth Amendment, a great achievement in itself. We did not see any visible movement towards reconciling the angry Baloch nationalists — one of many failures.
We have haplessly been watching bloodshed in Balochistan, targeted killings, body dumping and sectarian terrorism. The Balochistan Assembly and the government did nothing except dole out money among its members. The Assembly and most of the members didn’t genuinely represent the Baloch people. They rose to power through phony politics and with the help of invisible hands that had been at work during the military regime of Musharraf. Quite a few of them had a tribal social base that they bargained for power. Buying off individual loyalties of the Baloch chiefs in this troubled province has been an age-old tactic. Musharraf, for his personal interests, destroyed every democratic institution, but the most damage he did was to the flourishing political party system. Balochistan didn’t escape his divide and rule strategy either.
Even dummies must know that democracy cannot function without political parties, which take time to develop. All military dictators have destroyed the political party system of Pakistan as well as targeting the judiciary. Military rule is not possible without disrupting the natural evolution of these institutions.
Balochistan received yet another setback when the nationalist parties decided to boycott the 2008 elections. Balochistan’s representation in the constitutional institutions, from the provincial to the National Assembly has remained a murky issue at best.
The return of Sardar Akhtar Mengal, former chief minister of Balochistan, and his decision to contest elections, marks a new beginning. It is going to be a fresh start — yet another opportunity to resolve the Baloch conflict that started with the brutal murder of Sardar Mohammad Akbar Khan Bugti. Sadly, the history of Pakistan is replete with tragic examples of how individuals in military uniform captured power for personal interests and ruled the country like Mughal kings. At least, quite a few of the Mughals were graceful, sagacious and just, and connected with the peoples and communities by embracing local cultures. None of the military rulers of Pakistan had any of these merits — just the arrogant show-boys burning with vengeance against the genuine representatives of the people. No authentic Baloch spared.
Sardar Mengal and other nationalists have serious reservations about the intrusiveness of what they call the ‘security establishment’. It is time that their concerns and fears are addressed. They are not wrong in pointing fingers. We have a history of military dictators stealing elections and popular mandates. It will be a step forward when the people of Balochistan elect their representatives with party flags and colours flowing in fresh political air. Only authentic Baloch representatives can exercise moral and political authority and engage with the militant factions — mostly the estranged Baloch youth that has been driven to take up arms.
Baloch leaders with power and popular mandates can resolve the conflict and establish peace in Balochistan. All others, from state institutions to political parties, should listen to them and follow their steps.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 16th, 2013.
We have haplessly been watching bloodshed in Balochistan, targeted killings, body dumping and sectarian terrorism. The Balochistan Assembly and the government did nothing except dole out money among its members. The Assembly and most of the members didn’t genuinely represent the Baloch people. They rose to power through phony politics and with the help of invisible hands that had been at work during the military regime of Musharraf. Quite a few of them had a tribal social base that they bargained for power. Buying off individual loyalties of the Baloch chiefs in this troubled province has been an age-old tactic. Musharraf, for his personal interests, destroyed every democratic institution, but the most damage he did was to the flourishing political party system. Balochistan didn’t escape his divide and rule strategy either.
Even dummies must know that democracy cannot function without political parties, which take time to develop. All military dictators have destroyed the political party system of Pakistan as well as targeting the judiciary. Military rule is not possible without disrupting the natural evolution of these institutions.
Balochistan received yet another setback when the nationalist parties decided to boycott the 2008 elections. Balochistan’s representation in the constitutional institutions, from the provincial to the National Assembly has remained a murky issue at best.
The return of Sardar Akhtar Mengal, former chief minister of Balochistan, and his decision to contest elections, marks a new beginning. It is going to be a fresh start — yet another opportunity to resolve the Baloch conflict that started with the brutal murder of Sardar Mohammad Akbar Khan Bugti. Sadly, the history of Pakistan is replete with tragic examples of how individuals in military uniform captured power for personal interests and ruled the country like Mughal kings. At least, quite a few of the Mughals were graceful, sagacious and just, and connected with the peoples and communities by embracing local cultures. None of the military rulers of Pakistan had any of these merits — just the arrogant show-boys burning with vengeance against the genuine representatives of the people. No authentic Baloch spared.
Sardar Mengal and other nationalists have serious reservations about the intrusiveness of what they call the ‘security establishment’. It is time that their concerns and fears are addressed. They are not wrong in pointing fingers. We have a history of military dictators stealing elections and popular mandates. It will be a step forward when the people of Balochistan elect their representatives with party flags and colours flowing in fresh political air. Only authentic Baloch representatives can exercise moral and political authority and engage with the militant factions — mostly the estranged Baloch youth that has been driven to take up arms.
Baloch leaders with power and popular mandates can resolve the conflict and establish peace in Balochistan. All others, from state institutions to political parties, should listen to them and follow their steps.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 16th, 2013.