Time for a truthful Balochistan inquiry

Balochistan is far from stabilisation. Along with political violence and subsequent repressive policies of the security apparatus, the province faces a multitude of problems.

A combination of economic collapse, Talibanisation, sectarian menace, abductions for ransom, near-to-collapsed health and education infrastructures, corruption and brutally mismanaged governance have brought the province to the verge of a Somalia-like situation where the ordinary citizen begs state-backed criminals, gangs and mafias for safety and security.

Simply, Balochistan is in a political crisis and it needs a well-sequenced road map to undo the damage and reverse the cycle of violence. In order to prevent further political and human catastrophe, as a first step, Balochistan’s complex situation demands a proper process of comprehensive and impartial inquiry.

The inquiry should be mandated to examine the role and conduct of the central government and law-enforcement agencies, including the way decisions were made by the Musharraf-led regime and later by the Zardari government.

If an inquiry could be conducted impartially and free from the influence of ‘powerful’ institutions, it could provide a reliable account of the events that drove matters to the current pass.

This is without doubt a challenging task. Composed of members from the judiciary, parliament and human rights defenders, the Balochistan inquiry commission must conduct itself in a sober, serious and impartial manner to restore the trust of marginalised ethnic communities and restore rights to the people who have been devastated by discriminatory policies and an ethnically imbalanced state structure.

The commission constituted by the consent of the Supreme Court should provide a reliable account of the nearly decade-long protracted conflict. The body could take matters further and ask experts to assist in its work of asking the right questions.

The stakeholders to be called on would include Baloch nationalist parties, victims of enforced disappearances, and the family members of ‘kill and dump’ victims, journalists, Baloch leaders here and in exile and Baloch writers and intellectuals.

From the side of the state, respondents would include former and current federal government representatives, former and current heads of the security and the intelligence apparatus and all other actors who were involved in Musharraf’s deadly policy vis-a-vis Balochistan.

Meanwhile, the government must ensure full cooperation with the inquiry committee by ensuring that no document or witness lies beyond the scope of the forum. Accounts of the hearings and copies of all the documents submitted should be put on the internet and the media must have full access to the hearings. This would help increase public understanding and reduce the chances of further misadventures.

Waiting for a miracle is waste of time. It is pertinent to have a truthful and credible process — an inquiry that investigates what went wrong in Balochistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2013.

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