A Call for Baloch Recognition Beyond Colonial Legacy

Ali Jan Maqsood

Quetta: The national unity is of paramount importance to Pakistan. This requires inculcating a sense of fairness across all the provinces of Pakistan that subsequent national governments have not been able to achieve for decades.

Against this background, the right to be able to peacefully protest against real and perceived past and present injustices is fundamental to national democracy and unity. For this to be prevented would only result in intensifying the discord between the ‘Centre’ and provinces.

This is particularly the case with Balochistan. Balochis have increasingly felt that have met with resistance and heavy-handedness by the federal government in Islamabad, and this continues to be the case now.

Balochis have been consistently asked to be more understanding and conciliatory, yet their fundamental outstanding grievances regarding all matters to do with the national vision and the distribution of resources and development that ensue from that have remained unattended.

This uneven approach has created a deep sense of colonisation by Islamabad with uneven treatment.

The state institutions, including Islamabad police, superior courts, and other state operators have consistently disregarded the rights of Balochi citizens. Such was the case when Islamabad High Court issued orders to release the arrested Baloch marchers, including women, children, and old ages, and even the Inspector General of Islamabad is on record saying they were being released.

The very same night, Islamabad Police’s official Twitter Account handler also tweeted that they were released and a committee of federal ministers also held a media conference claiming the same. But all this was fake news because actually they were not released. Instead, they were being pushed inside buses for deportation to Quetta.

Hamid Mir, a prominent journalist commented, “With this deportation, state is sending a message to Balochistan that they are a different country.”

Read More:https://thepenpk.com/the-clash-of-priorities/

With mounting pressure and the fake news exposed, and on being summoned back to the Islamabad Higher Court, the IG had to release the given persons though very late in the night. Amazingly, the IG escaped any punishment for telling lies in the IHC and the federal ministers doing the same in the conference.

It seemed that they were afforded privileges because of who they were or was it the case of the court being hapless? To apply the salt to the wound, a Balochi produced before a court in Turbat but was ‘killed in a fake encounter’ later on. In these circumstances, why should anyone be expected to trust the courts?

However, such behaviors are less shocking for Balochistan, as these are common things which happen in the province routinely. Yet, the wider Pakistani and world communities remain oblivious to these injustices and double standards. Apart from a minority, the majority have their eyes closed to Balochistan’s grievances.

Balochis, on the other hand, continue to have faith that they will be listened to in Islamabad. But the failures of the authorities in the capital to take Balochi grievances seriously will make them less likely to travel back for the attainment of their rights and have their voice recorded. There are also those who ask, what is the ‘Balochi problem?

Each time Balochis get to face this question, they feel that there rights and outstanding grievances are not understood. This is making the youth of the province ask, What is the point of attending all these so-called peace discussions and negotiations when injustices and inequalities continue to grow? In such circumstances, it is not surprising that young people are turning to militancy. The authorities really can’t blame them for their ineptness.

Using water cannons, tear gas, and baton charges is not an answer to long-held grievances. This only goes to strengthen the Balochi resolve and resistance.

Relations between the federal authorities and Balouchistan are at an impasse. The disappearance of students is not helping, in fact, it fuelling militancy, particularly among students. They are then labelled with charges of ‘terrorism’ and are never produced in courts of law. They are sometimes killed extra-judicially, as in the recent case of Balach Mola Bakhsh, and abducted for years, as in the cases of Zakir Majeed, Dr Deen Mobammad Baloch, Zahid Kurd Baloch, Shabbir Baloch, Asad Baloch, and several other Baloch.

Killings of individuals in fake encounters are only fuelling insurgency and not helping to bridge the growing gap between the centre and the province.

The article is the writer’s opinion, it may or may not adhere to the organization’s editorial policy.