THAT the ARD chose December 16, the day marking the Fall of Dhaka, to hold a Round Table Conference on Balochistan, underlines the concern felt by every patriotic Pakistani whenever force is used to settle political disputes.
That the government prefers to treat the unrest in Balochistan as a law and order issue rather than a political problem can be gauged from two facts. Scores of political activists have reportedly been picked up by security agencies without any cases being registered. According to politicians from Balochistan at the conference, some are languishing in safe houses for over a year.
Meanwhile, their families have made fervent appeals and parties have repeatedly called on the government to produce them before the courts, without result. Then, a parliamentary committee was constituted under Ch Shujaat Hussain to resolve the province’s immediate and long term problems.
The subcommittee, which was to make recommendations on the immediate issues, failed to submit any proposals to Parliament months after the expiry of its mandated deadline, despite promises that it would prepare a package that would far exceed the expectations of the people of Balochistan. The other sub committee entrusted with the task of finalising constitutional amendments to safeguard the rights of Balochistan and other smaller provinces turned out to be dead from the word.
While no one in his senses can condone acts of violence like rocket attacks and bomb blasts, militancy can be effectively controlled only by removing the causes underlying discontent. This is the line government leaders have also frequently taken at international forums, and rightly so. Military rule is in itself a major reason behind unrest in the smaller provinces which have limited access to the higher echelons where crucial decisions affecting their lives are taken.
Also, provincial autonomy becomes meaningless when a Centre appointee is administering the province, even if he is a native son. The 2002 elections could have provided confidence to the smaller provinces but the way they were engineered and the security agencies subsequently used to buy over loyalties, while provincial assembly resolutions were disdainfully ignored, like the one calling on Islamabad to drop plans for additional cantonments in Balochistan, contributed to the reduction of confidence in parliamentary modes of protest.
That the ARD decided to call the conference in Lahore is highly appropriate, particularly when attempts are being to use the name of the Punjab to pressure the smaller provinces. Practically all parties from Balochistan attended the meeting, which underlines their keenness to resolve issues politically. The government must take the cases of those who have committed any crime to regular courts, while releasing all others and enter into serious and meaningful talks with the representatives of the province to remove their grievances.
Otherwise, there is a danger of the situation getting out of the hands of elected representatives and falling into those of irresponsible elements. The RTC’s joint communiquéé deserves serious consideration by those holding the levers of power.
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/dec-2005/18/editorials1.php
|
