Fazal Muhammad Khan
Amid frustrations — thanks to the worsened law and order situation and the bottommost socio-economic mobility in the province — Balochistan’s government has undertaken some laudable initiatives, particularly in education sector. These include cabinet’s recent decisions to induct native mother languages in educational curriculum of the province as optional subjects, introducing chapters on such veteran Baloch and Pashtun nationalist leaders as Ghaus Bakhsh Buzenjo (1917-1989) and Shaheed Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai (1907-1973), regularizing more than 5000 teachers from eighteen different districts recruited under Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package, and suspending some corrupt officials in the department.
By the same token, Balochistan government also took the lead when it succeeded in holding local bodies’ elections on December 7 in a peaceful manner despite its volatile security situation while the other provinces still employ foot-dragging devices, citing one or other reason, in devolving power to the lower tiers.
These initiatives coupled with the promises in health sector, which include devolving power from the provincial health secretariat at Quetta to the divisional and district level offices in respective cities, do not at all certify the provincial ministers’ mantra that the situation in Balochistan has improved in the last 8 months. That being said, certain issues which needed immediate attentions of both federal and provincial governments since they came into power in June last year still remain unaddressed.
First, sectarian strife continues to perpetuate. Hazara Shiite ethnical minority of the province still faces existential threat to its survival causing massive legal and illegal immigration of Hazara youth and families to European countries, particularly to Australia. Many of these illegal migrants are becoming prey to human trafficking via land and sea routes, suffer from miserable travel conditions and some of them even die on the way. Thanks to government’s continued inaction on providing protection to Hazaras and the absence of effective legislation on human trafficking, it has become a profitable business in the province.
Second, there appears no end to forced disappearances. 70 years old Mama Qadeer Baloch is on Long March again this time en route to Islamabad from Karachi, calling for the recovery of missing persons and an end to forced disappearances.
Not a single of those already missing has been recovered since this government (both federal and provincial) has sworn in. Dumped mutilated dead bodies of these missing persons, however, continue to be found frequently in rural areas of Balochistan.
In the backdrop of this grave issue, the staggering statement of Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch on October 27 last year, wherein he admitted his failure in recovering missing persons, raised the eyebrows of political observers and both Baloch and Pashtun nationalists. Such statements do nothing but reinforce the popular notion that a parallel government run by those at Quetta Cantonment still operates in Balochistan.
Third, kidnapping for ransom has become a thriving business these days in Balochistan with kidnappers demanding ransom amount in millions from the families of those kidnapped. As an example, an amount of rupees one billion has been demanded from the family of Awami National Party’s central leader and its former provincial president Arbab Abdul Zahir Kasi who was abducted in October last year and is still missing. In yet another shocking instance, the renowned cardiologist Dr. Manaf Tareen’s family had to pay rupees 50 million for his safe arrival to home in Quetta on December 2 last year after 78 days of his abduction in September. Disgracefully, the government has failed in its recovery operation in both these abduction cases.
While hearing the case of kidnapping of Arbab Abdul Zahir in November, Balochistan high Court remarked that the people were abducted in daytime from the busy roads of the city and the police could do nothing. Court further said, “There are only four roads in Quetta and it is ironic that law enforcers are still unable to maintain peace and protect the citizens’ life and property”. These remarks explicitly reflect the severity of this issue.
Fourth, unemployment in Balochistan is at 20% despite the fact that it makes only 5 % of country’s population. This certainly makes youth in the province prone to recruitment in secessionist, extremist and sectarian militant outfits.
Fifth, research in the universities located in Balochistan is down to zero. Technical expertise required for the operations of scientific instruments in laboratories in universities is close to nonexistence. Additionally, the number of PhDs produced each year by Punjab University alone exceeds the total number of PhDs produced by all the five public-sector universities of Balochistan. Worse still, graduates produced by these universities very rarely have the capacity to compete in labor market and services sector with the graduates of universities located in other provinces.
Sixth, and the most important to me, Pashtuns’ resentment over the parity principle (that Balochs and Pashtuns must be treated equally in all sectors) has so far not been addressed even though the Pashtuns’ party Pashtunkhwa Mili Awami Party has also been in power since May 11 general elections.
Merit continues to be slayed by the district-wise quota system, depriving competent Pashtun youths of their fundamental right to compete both in admissions to educational institutes and in recruitment to various posts. In an advertisement on January 21, 2014 by Balochistan Public Service Commission, for example, not even a single of total 344 posts of male lecturers has been reserved for the Pashtuns. Additionally, out of total 330 posts of female lecturers, only 81 seats have been reserved for female aspirants from Pashtun-populated districts of Killa Abdullah, Killa Saifullah and Loralai. Put together, out of the total 674 seats, 593 seats are reserved for Baloch aspirants from fifteen Baloch populated districts, and only 81 seats are reserved for Pashtun aspirants from only three Pashtun populated districts. Moreover, albeit qualifying the criteria, Pashtun bureaucrats still find themselves deprived of the administrative posts of higher grades in provincial secretariat.
By the same token, NADRA continues to play the deplorable role of blocking or resisting in issuing computerized NICs to many Pashtuns, rendering them the status of Muhajirs in their own very land.
Corruption, smuggling, poverty, and religious madrasas’ pouring in graduates with extremist and militant mindsets in social fabric of the province are yet some other straws which have continuously been breaking the camel’s back.
So far it has only been a zero-sum game with those at the helm of affairs at the receiving end.
Legislation has to be oriented in the direction of a prosperous Balochistan. Although we often come to hear the stories of ministers holding the hands of bureaucrats in provincial secretariat, showing them the whole morass, making them emerge from their inaction clout and work for welfare of people, yet they have to do more than that.
All they (legislators) need to do is to unite, work as one political unit and come up with uniform policy — acceptable to all — to pacify the situation in Balochistan. They are bound to do it now, for if they do not, Balochistan’s conundrum is bound to surface like a demon for the whole nation.
Fazal Muhammad Khan is a youth activist, politician and General Secretary of Institute for Development Education and Advocacy (IDEA). He can be reached at fazajana@gmail.com
Its a good writeup but a lot of facts have been distorted which need to be addressed.
1)The parity principle as demanded by PKMAP is senseless and in contravention to basic principles of democracy. Balochistan is a Baloch Majority province. The population of Pashtun is around 30% and Baloch 65%. Illegal naturalization of Afghan Immigrants has swelled up the Pashtun population but that can’t be counted.
2)The criticism on 674 posts of lecturers is also beyond comprehension. These posts are allocated to the districts where the vacancies are available. There were more vacancies in Baloch areas and that’s why they are getting more share of these posts. When the posts of Pashtun Areas are going to be advertised then they will get more share and so on.
3) District quota system is must for Balochistan because here the quality of education and merit is not uniform which is pre-requisite for open merit system. For instance, if there is all Pakistan open Merit for BMC seats then I am afraid even the TALENTED PASHTUNS will not get any set there. So open Merit at Balochistan is also a quota system at National Level.
4)If NADRA or DGIP is creating problems for local Pashtuns then its condemnable but if they are doing it for Afghan Immigrants then their act should be applauded.
5) Balochistan is a turbulent province where Baloch are suffering more than Pashtun. The times demand Baloch Pashtun Unity not quarrels on petty issues.
Writer has done justice with each and every single issue from first point to last one. Writer explained and presented a honest picture of every single point as he appreciated the government on some of the good initiatives for the wale-fare of masses.on other hand ,He did justice and boldly criticized the government on its incompetency and wrong polices specially on the issue of missing persons and recent allocation of seats of lectures in education department. Good attempt and kept up it.
let me to answer the baseless,biased,senseless allegations by honorable Adan Amir,
1) This is very unjust to claim that Pashtun is only 30% of the population in Balochistan. As Pashtun equally shares the equal proportion with Balochs in the province as cited in the Degree awarding Research paper(THESIS) of GCU Lahore,History Department and followed by Hazra Community and other settlers and I wish that Mr.Adan could read some recent data to polish and fresh his old and out-dated information and to accept the reality openly and let the way for the betterment and development of the province.
2) this is my comment in response to Mr.Adans’ second point, Again i wish Mr.Adan could read some thing regarding the functioning and recruitment policy of the Balochistan public Service Commission of 1991.i am posting my letter to editor ( A Humble Request) on issue of Unfair and unjust allocation of Vacancies in Education Department.I wish ,He would manage time to read it which I don’t expect reading from him at all.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/letters/30-Jan-2014/a-humble-request
3) Yes, i am slightly agree on this point that Quota is way to resolve the representation of all communities but on other hand ,Quota is demoralizing the talented youth of the province and you are self-contradictory that once you are saying that Pashtuns are only 30% then Why are you afraid of Open Merit system in the province.The Quota is preferable in the case of vacancies allocations on zonal system because it will let the competent students to go ahead for competition while Quota system in educational institutes is immoral,ant-merit and deprived the talented and hard workers from their rights therefore, let open door for merit and it will enhanced the sense of confidence of youth for competition at every level.
5) I don’t have enough information on this point at all but I can believe on writer stance as responsible writer which is clearly depict from his entire work. This issue need dire attention from representative of masses specially from PkMAP is the House.
Yes, you are right in last point that Balochs are facing the worst time of their life in the province. But,Pashtuns can not compromised on their rights on other misers of others and This is not pashtus who creates the problems for Baloch in the province but Pashtuns are equally sadden by their worst time of life. Pashtuns in this province is facing one problem which is matter of life and death for them which "IDENTITY CRISIS” which can be resolved through restoration of British Balochistan and this is first and last demand by the pashtuns of Balochistan. Best of luck.THanks
4) I don’t have enough information on this point at all but I can believe on writer stance as responsible writer which is clearly depict from his entire work. This issue need dire attention from representative of masses specially from PkMAP is the House.
Yes, you are right in last point that Balochs are facing the worst time of their life in the province. But,Pashtuns can not compromised on their rights on other misers of others and This is not pashtus who creates the problems for Baloch in the province but Pashtuns are equally sadden by their worst time of life. Pashtuns in this province is facing one problem which is matter of life and death for them which "IDENTITY CRISIS” which can be resolved through restoration of British Balochistan and this is first and last demand by the pashtuns of Balochistan. Best of luck.THanks
I just saw the comments in response to my comments so apologize for the late reply…
Mr. Hazrat Wali Kakar has termed my comments as baseless,biased,senseless allegations. Thanks for the compliments now let me reply to the pearls of wisdom shared by this gentleman.
1)A thesis can’t prove the population of a province. The research conducted for thesis is done through sampling and that can never tell the ethnic composition of a province. I am amazed as how the research of universities is presented as a solid proof of population. There has been increase in population in Balochistan and primarily its due to Afghan Immigrants which are not Pakistani citizens. So Population of Balochistan can’t be 50-50 for Baloch and Pashtoons on wishes of a political party….
2) Now that the vacancies of lecturers have been cancelled, i still would like to reply to this. Who has the portfolio of education in this government? PKMAP.. If the posts were lecturer were announced in unjust manner than it was not possible without the consent of PKMAP.. Now same advisor of PKAMP has announced cancellation of those posts. There can be either of two conclusions from this fiasco, either PKMAP made a wrong decision initially when it allowed the lecturer vacancies or it just orchestrated this drama to show that Pashtoons are not getting thier rights. Simple petty politics..
3) I want Mr Hazrat Wali Kakar to re-read my comment about quota system. I has nothing to do with population but with the standard of merit… In present situation of Balochistan application of open merit will immoral and travesty of justice British Balochistan was not a Pashtoon only province it also had Baloch population. In fact that was a real 50-50 thing.
5) Last general elections were most rigged in history after 1977 elections. The provincial assembly is selected rather than elected. I intend to write a detailed article on elections soon…
Pashtoons are getting more than their share in provincial setup of Balochistan be it bureaucracy or the monopoly on universities etc. Its along debate. Its Balochistan province which is suffering and internal quarrels will only help the federal government in continue depriving Balochistan from its rights. Only one party PKMAP is causing trouble other pashtoon parties such as ANP don’t agree with fallacy of parity principle.
I co-incidentally read your Letter to editor before you shared it here. I would like to share my article about this issue and I hope that you will read it 🙂
https://laaltain.pk/rebuttal-to-the-untold-story-of-pashtoons-in-balochistan/
Thanks.. Any constructive response is always welcome