Tehreek-e-Suba Hazara chief Sardar Baba Haider Zaman. PHOTO: QAZI USMAN
Tehreek-e-Suba Hazara (TSH) chief Sardar Baba Haider Zaman has warned of agitation if the demand for a separate province is not fulfilled by April.
Addressing a workers convention on Sunday, Baba Zaman contended that until the people of Hazara are given a separate identity by establishing a province, the sense of deprivation and alienation among them would continue to prevail.
“We have sacrificed our fertile land for the construction of dams, and contribute billions in revenue to the national and provincial exchequers from our forests, minerals and industries. But in return, the rulers are not willing to accept our genuine demand for a Hazara province,” said Zaman.
The leader insisted the formation of a fifth province would have no political repercussions and would only help improve governance.
Explaining the benefits of smaller administrative units, the TSH leader maintained such units protect the country from disintegration and allow a culture of democracy to flourish.
Lashing out at political parties, Zaman said certain parties supported the cause of the Hazara people but after making their way into Parliament they stepped back on the matter.
“The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has cheated the people of Hazara by making hollow promises during its election campaign,” said Zaman, accusing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of not being sincere with the people of Hazara who elected him twice in the past and supported his party in all elections.
The TSH chief also criticised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for “not taking practical steps to get the resolution for a Hazara province approved by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and using delaying tactics.”
“The PTI leadership is following in the steps of the central government’s leadership and simply relying on empty promises without any sincerity to fulfil our demand,” said Zaman.
The leader pledged support to political parties in upcoming local bodies’ election, subject to the condition they give parliamentary support to the move for a Hazara province.
Hazara Qaumi Mahaz Chairman Qazi Muhammad Azhar Advocate also spoke on the occasion and announced all pro-Hazara parties would contest the local government elections with rejuvenated spirit.
He asked both parties’ workers to unite and only elect candidates who remain sincere to the cause of a separate province.
Endorsing Zaman’s warning of agitation in the Hazara belt, Azhar maintained they would protest if the government does not accept their demand by April 12 of this year.
April 12 is etched in memory for Hazara as at least seven people were killed and over 100 injured when police opened fire and tear gas at pro-Hazara province protesters on this day in Abbottabad in 2010. The protesters had been demonstrating against the renaming of North West Frontier Province to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and were demanding a Hazara province.
The day has been observed as a ‘black day’ annually by pro-Hazara parties since then.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 6th, 2014.
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