Balochistan polls: Ghafoor Haideri opposes targeted operations

JUI-F secretary-general says candidates are harassed by both militants and security forces.

ISLAMABAD:

Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, secretary general of the JUI-F, has a lot to say, particularly about the forthcoming polls.

Not only is he updated about the violent situation in Balochistan, which has brought electioneering to a virtual halt, but he also has been directly affected by it.

And yet, speaking candidly, he categorically rejects the government’s decision to conduct a ‘targeted operation’ in the region and says that law and order should only be addressed by political and constitutional means.

“The use of force to resolve political and constitutional issues would be counter-productive,” he remarks thoughtfully.

However, despite this opposition to operations carried out by the army and the Frontier Corps, Haideri does appear to be perturbed by the militant attacks on candidates in his NA-268 constituency in Kalat-Mustung.

“Death threats by militants have sparked a difficult political and security environment in Kalat for electioneering,” he says. “The candidates cannot even move freely to contact people. Furthermore, candidates are not being allowed by the militants to display their posters and banners, in Kalat city and the adjoining areas. Transporters have refused to be hired by politicians. Under such circumstances, how will voters manage to reach polling stations on that day?”

According to the election commission’s code of conduct, candidates are not permitted to provide transportation to voters to reach the polling station. Furthermore, Baloch militants have also announced a shutter-down strike in Kalat on May5, which is bound to add to the obstacles candidates face.

Haideri has been provided police guards by the provincial government, but he believes that this is not sufficient.

“Our supporters and voters and really scared, because of the lack of official security arrangements. Subversive  activities in the province are on the rise, particularly in Kalat,” he says.

He maintains that his party, Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), has always opposed such operations. Nevertheless, he does concede that the current operation, aimed at providing a more conducive environment for the May 11 elections, may be somewhat helpful.

Yet Haideri says that problems have come his way from militants as well as FC personnel.

“My house was subjected to a raid by FC men just last week, without any prior notice. They also raided my brother’s house, and those of other close relatives. They disgraced my family members, including women and children,” he says angrily. “We are being targeted from two sides – the Baloch militants and the security forces. We are not safe.”

Nonetheless, in spite of the all the hurdles, Haideri states vehemently that the general elections should be held as per schedule. Any delay will cause irreparable losses to the State.

This time around, he is greatly optimistic about his chances. He was made a member of the Senate by his party after he was defeated by PPP’s Dr Ayatullah Durrani in 2008. Again, he will lock horns with Durrani.

“I stood at the third position in the 2008 election but, this time, my position is at the top,” he claims confidently.  “I have a bright chance of winning. Former chief minister Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani is whole-heartedly supporting my candidature.”

Speaking of the party’s refusal to award a ticket to its central leader, Hafiz Husain Ahmad, Haideri says that the candidature was simply not approved by the Quetta district leadership.


Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2013.