Balochistan crisis: Dr Malik urges insurgents to revisit their approach

Chief minister says he’d been mandated by Centre to bring all groups into mainstream.

QUETTA:

Balochistan has been mired in a low-key insurgency since 2004 which has become deadlier following the killing of Jamhoori Wattan Party leader Nawab Akbar Bugti in 2006. Security situation has been volatile, with militant and sectarian violence, snap search operations and alleged rights abuses afflicting the local populace. 

A medley of Baloch insurgent groups keep the embers of insurgency burning. And the worst sufferers of this fighting are the Baloch people. Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch advises insurgent groups to ‘revisit their  approach’ in order to lessen the sufferings of their brethren.



“Historically, insurgency has given the Baloch people nothing save death and destruction and triggered forced migrations. This 12-year-long insurgency has destroyed the economy and disrupted social services in Balochistan,” Dr Malik told The Express Tribune in an exclusive interview.

Since coming to power as a result of the 2013 election, Dr Malik has been conciliatory in his tone and tenor. He believes in putting out the insurgency through dialogue and healing the scars of war.

“I’ve been mandated by the federal government to bring all Baloch leaders into the political mainstream. I want to persuade them to attain their rights through a democratic struggle. And I’m sure my efforts will yield results,” he said.



He candidly admitted that so far his administration’s efforts to bring the Baloch separatists to the negotiating table have been unsuccessful. “But a strategy is being devised to convene an all parties’ conference (APC) soon,” he added. “The ruling National Party wants to organise a meaningful APC where every stakeholder will be invited.”

Asked about the achievements during his year-long rule, the chief minister said that the security situation has comparatively improved.

“There has been a considerable decline in incidents of targeted killing and kidnapping-for-ransom as well as street crimes in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan,” he said. “Highways were not safe a year ago but now people can travel without fear,” he added. “One can compare the statistics with those of the previous government and see the difference.”



However, he said there were still some troubled spots where the government was trying its best to maintain law and order.

“The projects to lay 20 KV Khuzdar-Dadu and Loralai-DG Khan transmission lines are in full swing and one of them will complete by May 20 while the other in July. These projects will help in curtailing load shedding in Balochistan,” Dr Malik said.

He said Gwadar-Rato Dero and Quetta-Chaman highways would be completed soon while construction work on highways in Panjgur and other areas has been expedited. “Nothing like this has happened before,” he claimed, adding that previous governments could not complete these projects during their tenures.

Responding to a question regarding the upcoming budget, the chief minister said his government’s focus would remain on law and order, education, basic healthcare, agriculture, women empowerment and water issue.

“I will present these proposals before the cabinet which is scheduled to meet on May 20. It was the first time the government has allocated 24% for education and taken strict action against ghost and absentee teachers.”

Federal govt releases 80% fund

The chief minister said it was an achievement of his administration that the federal government had released 80% of Balochistan’s funds while the remaining amount was going to be released in coming days.

“After a long time the Balochistan government has received Rs28 billion out of Rs38 billion, 80% of the total allocation from the federal government, which released it about 15 days ago.

He said the release of funds had helped expedited work on transmission lines and highways in Balochistan. “For the past many years Balochistan had never been released such a huge amount. People will see positive results of this in coming months,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 20^th, 2014.