In an effort to heal the wounds of the past, a 39-point ‘Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan’ package was tabled at a joint sitting of the Parliament, which is a welcome move. There is no doubt that Balochistan was neglected during British Raj and no serious effort was made to develop the province and improve the living conditions of the people for decades. But one should not reject this package because similar efforts had proved infructuous.
Some nationalists and a few members of opposition parties have not appreciated the spirit in which this has been presented. And some Baloch sardars had rejected the package even before its details were made public. Anyhow, recommendations in the package were divided over five categories: constitutional, political, administrative, economic and monitoring mechanism. It proposed the facilitation of the return of political exiles, immediate release of political workers and political dialogue with all stake-holders. The package included setting up of a fact-finding commission to investigate the circumstances that led to the death of Nawab Akbar Bugti and stopping the construction of cantonments in Sui and Kohlu, withdrawing the armed forces from these areas. If one dispassionately examines the situation one would reach the conclusion that on the one hand strong centre syndrome and on the other centrifugal tendencies on the part of some Baloch sardars were responsible for continuous confrontation and crisis in Balochistan. It goes without saying that people of Balochistan have the first right over minerals and other natural resources of Balochistan, and major part of the income from these assets should be spent on the welfare of the people of Balochistan. Of course, Baloch sardars should be given their share if income accrues from their area. It is unfortunate that some sardars are not willing to accept less than independence, and they openly talk about secession. Akhtar Mengal, Shahzain Bugti and Mir Byar Marri do not hide their ambitions of having an independent Balochistan. But no state worth its name would turn a blind eye to the efforts aimed at disintegrating the country and hold talks with such elements. Those who insist that the government should have talks with them, they should first ask these leaders to wean away from secessionist tendencies. In many countries of the world there are such contradictions that are resolved through talks. But three Baloch Sardars insist that Balochistan was never part of Pakistan. But a glance through history would prove them wrong. The province was originally formed over the period 1876-1891 by three treaties between Sir Robert Sandeman and the Khan of Kalat. He was Political Agent for the British-administered areas which were strategically located between British India and Afghanistan. The province was abolished in 1955 and was merged into One Unit. In 1970, One Unit was done away with by Yahya government and the provincial status of Balochistan was also restored. Before appointment of Sir Robert Sandeman as political agent in Balochistan, British Raj used to give a part of stipend or ‘dole’ to big sardars; however a major part went to chieftains of the tribes, who used to share with tribal people. This two tier system was abandoned after Pakistan came into being and people of Balochistan were left at the mercy of sardars. Historical evidence suggests that before the British Raj, tribal people used to choose their sardar on the basis of his valour, his wisdom and his commitment to the welfare of the tribe. The British, however, gave sardars unprecedented powers and sardari was made hereditary. In 1970s Baloch sardars had taken to the mountains in their tiff with late ZA Bhtto who wished to construct roads and schools in Balochistan. Cases were instituted against Marri and Mengal sardars. Late Zia-ul-Haq, however, adopted the old policy of reconciliation with local Baloch sardars and peace was restored in the province. In 1988 Balochistan Assembly was dissolved, when Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was Chief Minister of the province, but later was restored under the orders of High Court. It has to be borne in mind that tribalism is firmly rooted in Balochistan, as ethnic and tribal identity is a potent force for both individuals and groups in Balochistan with the result that there exists deep polarization among different groups. Each of these groups is based on different rules of social organization, which has left the province inexorably fragmented. Tribal group-ism has failed to integrate the state and enforce a national identity. Anyhow, leaders of Balochistan should be respected but at the same time they have to forget their bitterness of the past and make a fresh start. During an interview in a TV channel Mirbyar Marri said: “American enslavement is better than Punjab enslavement because Punjabis will come and occupy our lands for good. The Americans will only steal our oil and gas, while Punjabis will obliterate our national identity”. Marri, Mengal and Bugti are major tribes of Balochistan and their sardars consider entire Balochistan as their fiefdom. It has to be mentioned that sardars and feudal chiefs thrive even amid the centre’s injustices and the clashes between them and the security forces. In other words, poor people of Balochistan stand to suffer in general by sardars during peace times and also become fodder for the sardars when they challenge the writ of the state. It is unfortunate that the civil society does not consider it worthwhile to comment on what sardars have been doing to their people. No human right activist cries over the atrocities inflicted on them by their feudal lords and sardars in their private jails. The people of Balochistan have been waging struggle for their rights ever since the British left. There could have been some justification for resistance when they were under strong center and unitary form of government in 1950s and 1960s. But once the One-Unit was done away with and complete provincial status was given to Balochistan, the struggle should have ended. The present government has once again offered a package and President Zardari had apologized to the people of Balochistan for the excesses in the past, Baloch sardars should avail this opportunity to bring peace and harmony in the province with a view to improving the lives of hapless Balochis.
Some nationalists and a few members of opposition parties have not appreciated the spirit in which this has been presented. And some Baloch sardars had rejected the package even before its details were made public. Anyhow, recommendations in the package were divided over five categories: constitutional, political, administrative, economic and monitoring mechanism. It proposed the facilitation of the return of political exiles, immediate release of political workers and political dialogue with all stake-holders. The package included setting up of a fact-finding commission to investigate the circumstances that led to the death of Nawab Akbar Bugti and stopping the construction of cantonments in Sui and Kohlu, withdrawing the armed forces from these areas. If one dispassionately examines the situation one would reach the conclusion that on the one hand strong centre syndrome and on the other centrifugal tendencies on the part of some Baloch sardars were responsible for continuous confrontation and crisis in Balochistan. It goes without saying that people of Balochistan have the first right over minerals and other natural resources of Balochistan, and major part of the income from these assets should be spent on the welfare of the people of Balochistan. Of course, Baloch sardars should be given their share if income accrues from their area. It is unfortunate that some sardars are not willing to accept less than independence, and they openly talk about secession. Akhtar Mengal, Shahzain Bugti and Mir Byar Marri do not hide their ambitions of having an independent Balochistan. But no state worth its name would turn a blind eye to the efforts aimed at disintegrating the country and hold talks with such elements. Those who insist that the government should have talks with them, they should first ask these leaders to wean away from secessionist tendencies. In many countries of the world there are such contradictions that are resolved through talks. But three Baloch Sardars insist that Balochistan was never part of Pakistan. But a glance through history would prove them wrong. The province was originally formed over the period 1876-1891 by three treaties between Sir Robert Sandeman and the Khan of Kalat. He was Political Agent for the British-administered areas which were strategically located between British India and Afghanistan. The province was abolished in 1955 and was merged into One Unit. In 1970, One Unit was done away with by Yahya government and the provincial status of Balochistan was also restored. Before appointment of Sir Robert Sandeman as political agent in Balochistan, British Raj used to give a part of stipend or ‘dole’ to big sardars; however a major part went to chieftains of the tribes, who used to share with tribal people. This two tier system was abandoned after Pakistan came into being and people of Balochistan were left at the mercy of sardars. Historical evidence suggests that before the British Raj, tribal people used to choose their sardar on the basis of his valour, his wisdom and his commitment to the welfare of the tribe. The British, however, gave sardars unprecedented powers and sardari was made hereditary. In 1970s Baloch sardars had taken to the mountains in their tiff with late ZA Bhtto who wished to construct roads and schools in Balochistan. Cases were instituted against Marri and Mengal sardars. Late Zia-ul-Haq, however, adopted the old policy of reconciliation with local Baloch sardars and peace was restored in the province. In 1988 Balochistan Assembly was dissolved, when Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti was Chief Minister of the province, but later was restored under the orders of High Court. It has to be borne in mind that tribalism is firmly rooted in Balochistan, as ethnic and tribal identity is a potent force for both individuals and groups in Balochistan with the result that there exists deep polarization among different groups. Each of these groups is based on different rules of social organization, which has left the province inexorably fragmented. Tribal group-ism has failed to integrate the state and enforce a national identity. Anyhow, leaders of Balochistan should be respected but at the same time they have to forget their bitterness of the past and make a fresh start. During an interview in a TV channel Mirbyar Marri said: “American enslavement is better than Punjab enslavement because Punjabis will come and occupy our lands for good. The Americans will only steal our oil and gas, while Punjabis will obliterate our national identity”. Marri, Mengal and Bugti are major tribes of Balochistan and their sardars consider entire Balochistan as their fiefdom. It has to be mentioned that sardars and feudal chiefs thrive even amid the centre’s injustices and the clashes between them and the security forces. In other words, poor people of Balochistan stand to suffer in general by sardars during peace times and also become fodder for the sardars when they challenge the writ of the state. It is unfortunate that the civil society does not consider it worthwhile to comment on what sardars have been doing to their people. No human right activist cries over the atrocities inflicted on them by their feudal lords and sardars in their private jails. The people of Balochistan have been waging struggle for their rights ever since the British left. There could have been some justification for resistance when they were under strong center and unitary form of government in 1950s and 1960s. But once the One-Unit was done away with and complete provincial status was given to Balochistan, the struggle should have ended. The present government has once again offered a package and President Zardari had apologized to the people of Balochistan for the excesses in the past, Baloch sardars should avail this opportunity to bring peace and harmony in the province with a view to improving the lives of hapless Balochis.
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