Sardar Akhtar Mengal. PHOTO: ONLINE
QUETTA:
Balochistan National Party-Mengal President Sardar Akhtar Mengal on Tuesday expressed grave concerns over the security situation in Balochistan as he called the province a ‘graveyard’.
“Balochistan has become a graveyard as the situation has gone from bad to worst over the past few years. There are grave diggers and mourners as far as I can see. I do not see a single happy person in my province,” Mengal said in a statement.
“I view the rulers in the province as grave diggers…they are not interested in political issues of the province. They are busy in digging more graves,” the former chief minister added.
He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had also forgotten the promises he made when he was sitting in opposition benches.
“The rulers have always suppressed the peaceful struggle of the Baloch people and never gave peace a chance. On the other hand, the government is deeply interested in negotiations with the Taliban.”
Mengal said Balochistan had always been treated as an occupied territory and Baloch people were treated as traitors, adding that the Balochistan government was only trying to control the natural resources of the province.
Mengal, who remained in self-exile for four years, said that the Balochistan chief minister has himself admitted that there are a number of places in the province where there is no writ of the government.
“What could be worse than the kidnapping of the deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner? I do not see any improvement in Balochistan,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2014.
COMMENTS (19)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Internal tussles within Bugti's tribal hierarchy and killings to become Chief of the Tribe (Sardar), are well known from their history. This angle needs investigations to find if it has any bearing in Bugti's case. In-house palace-coup conspiracies also carry a high probability, as the blame in that case would exclusively land on the Government, keeping the conspirators (if any) out of harms way.This was observed in refusal of the Bugti Clan to participate in the funeral of Bugti and claiming their ignorance about who was buried in the family graveyard, which adds increasing credence to this possibility.
The news of Bugti's death was broken by private TV channels and confirmed by the Government, based upon Bugti family resources. Initially two grand-sons of Akbar Bugti were also reported killed, but later reported having escaped unhurt. That means, there was another way out from the 150 feet deep cave, which had its front entrance collapsed. In that case, what made his grandsons not to take Bugti along when they escaped? The question needs convincing answer before reaching any definite conclusion in the whole intriguing episode.
@Pakistani, while Pakistani state negotiates with decapitators of its soldiers and those who are responsible for flight of capital from Pakistan! BUT Baloch couldn't be reconciled with for blowing a bunch of pipelines! Pity the Pakistani mentality seriously and then the arrogance, oh the arrogance!
Not bitter. They are plain factual.
When the tax payers pay hospital and security bills running into millions for one 70 year old retired general while another 70 year old subject of the welfare state walks 2000+ KM with women and children carrying message, plea, grievances.....
and things will get more worse when Pakistan supply anti tank and anti air craft weapons on the request of S A to Syrian rebels and in xounterolove Iran will do the same to BLA
Freedom and Self Determination cannot be thwarted by genocide as was demonstrated by Bangladesh. Swatantra is Balochistan’s birth right.
I do hope that the Indian Consulates in Afghanistan and Iran are providing all available diplomatic and moral support to the people of Balochistan in their struggle for freedom and self determination.
Zindabad Baluchistan!
**While Pakistanis are still saying: Kashmir banaga Pakistan
Baluch are saying: Khalat ban gaya Kabaristan.**
That is true that "Balochistan has become grave yard in the last five years'. But what are the dynamics behind this bitter crisis? You can not only blame the sate forces. Some forces are working which are/from external and even with in Baloch tribes,and sectarian actors are taking adavantage from this crisis. Why Baloch leaders dont unite for peace in Balochistn and just forget ego and agnoy of the past. For the better future, you will have to accept that great game may not be favor able even for the Baloch people in Balochistan.And dream for separate Balochistan cannot be made possible in the current circumstances.Paid workers/agents mst be pointed out. You should record your protest to the Afghan Government too.
Who's to blame? The answer can be found by looking inward rather than blaming the federation for everything. Especially when sweeping powers funds have been provided to Balochistan. There's no need to act like Hamid Karzai.
part of the problem is BLA is blowing all things up. Ask them to lay down their weapons, Accept the writ of the state and come to political process for their just needs. If they want to fight with the guns, i am sure we have more than them.