Balochistan predicament: Problems going from bad to worse

Safma seminar discusses province’s problems.

ISLAMABAD:

Lack of education, little or no accountability, rising  sectarianism, poor infrastructure and meddling in bureaucracy were highlighted as the major problems of Balochistan at a seminar on Friday.

The discussion, on the province’s post-election scenario, was organised by South Asian Free Media Association (Safma). Center for Research and Security Studies Executive Director Imtiaz Gul, former deputy speaker Wazir Ahmed Jogezai, development expert Usman Qazi, and PPP Senator Suraya Amiruddin spoke on the occasion.

At the discussion, Gul said, “The infrastructure of the province is in shambles though development funds have quadrupled from Rs45 billion to Rs72 in the last five years.”

He said no development work was carried out by the previous government, increasing the sense of deprivation and alienation among the people of the province.

“People are traumatised over the new trend of killing and dumping,” he said.

Jogezai said funds worth billions have been given to the provincial government under the Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan but were misappropriated due to lack of accountability.

“Every provincial assembly member got Rs2.5 billion in the name of development but there is no one to ask them where they spent the money,” he said, adding that most of the jobs from a class IV teacher to tehsildar have been sold by the previous government.

He appealed to nationalist parties including the Balochistan National Party-Mengal to participate in the democratic process and bring normalcy to the province.

“I am observing some elements of seriousness in this government,” he hoped.

Amiruddin said the problem of Balochistan cannot be solved from Islamabad. “The situation is very painful as targeting the Hazara community or others ethnic tribes has become a norm and kidnapping for ransom is the order of the day,” she said.

“The chief minister, throughout his tenure, remained in Islamabad,” she said, admitting that it was the PPP government’s responsibility for holding them accountable.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 6^th, 2013.