The Baloch poor are the worst off at the hands of their own Baloch elite class.
ISLAMABAD: This is with reference to Sanaullah Baloch’s article “Gwadar, China and Baloch apprehensions” (Septmber 10). The senator has made some valid points that no one can take exception to, foremost being the transparency of the Gwadar deal. Not only do we have to guard against a situation where for short-term gains, even unintentionally, seeds of a new East India Company should not be planted and we should also ensure that our own political and commercial interests are primarily served through this deal. Chinese interests should never supersede our own interests.
Good sense and practical policy dictates that first, benefit of this economic opportunity must accrue to the local population and thereafter, radiate outwards. Unfortunately, in our system, maximum benefit is taken by a narrow elite of all the provinces. The common people of all the provinces are undeniably exploited, mostly by their own elite. The Baloch poor are the worst off at the hands of their own Baloch elite class. I, being a non-Baloch, but a passionate Pakistani, feel that the Baloch elite class have done the biggest disservice to the poor of their area and this clamour of nationalists is just the pangs of pain felt by a small elite being elbowed out by the slowly grinding wheels of change, bringing empowerment to the very people they have been lording over for too long. But I greatly appreciate and love to read the very eloquent and erudite senator. Please keep writing these thought-provoking articles
Ahmad Sheikh
Published in The Express Tribune, September 10th, 2013.
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