Lackluster Baloch response to Balochistan package

By Bari Baloch

Ultimately, the long-awaited Balochistan package was unveiled in a joint session of the parliament. The package comprises constitutional, political, administrative and economic recommendations.

The main purpose of the package is to correct the wrongs of previous government headed by Pervez Musharraf that pushed the province towards such a situation which is now a cause of concern for every one.

When PPP came into power in 2008, its leaders announced that problems of Balochistan would be solved through peaceful means and a package would be announced to heal the deep wounds that were allegedly inflicted by the former regimes.

PPP leaders are terming the package as a historic step both in the history of country and Balochistan. “No one gave such a comprehensive package to Balochistan in last 62 years” said provincial minister Sadiq Umrani the spokesman of Balochistan Government while talking to Baloch Hal.

But contrary to views of PPP leaders, all the Baloch nationalist forces have vehemently rejected the package.

The situation that emerged in Balochistan because of policies of Pervez Musharraf regime particularly after the launching military operation divided the nationalist forces of Balochistan into two groups: the hardliners and the moderates.

Hardliners have been gathered on the platform of Baloch National Front (BNF). Nawabzada Brahamdagh Bugti and Nawabzada Hayrbiyar Marri are amongst the top leaders of BNF.

Both leaders have outrightly rejected the package. “We can negotiate with the government only on the issue of independence of Balochistan” said Nawabzada Hyrbiyar Marri during an interview with a private TV channel.

Like BNF, Balochistan National Party (BNP) has not only rejected the package but it was only ready for negotiations with the government provided there was an international guarantee.

“Balochs are demanding for authority on their resources and coast but instead of it Federal Government has announced some alms for them” said Habib Jalib Advocate and adding “rulers are not serious to solve the problems of Balochistan. Every body knows that who are the killers of Nawab Bugti and other Baloch leaders but they have talked for enquiry in the so called package”.

Though National Party has representation and it had also submitted recommendations for the package and constitutional amendments but the President of National Party Doctor Abdul Malik Baloch termed the Balochistan Package as fraud.

“Until and unless military operation is stopped, all missing people are recovered and internally displaced people from Kohlu and Dera Bugti are rehabilitated we will not accept any package” said Doctor Malik.

All the leaders of these parties have said that they had not been taken into confidence regarding the package.

BNP and many other political parties are alleging that not only operation and policies of Musharraf Government are still continued but they have also said that government announced the so-called package to divert the attention of people from the criticism in connection with NRO.

Besides nationalist parties, Governor Balochistan Nawab Zulfiqar Ali Magsi has also termed package as “charity”, saying what is being granted by the Federal Government is right of people of Balochistan.

Political observers are of the view that a line has been drawn in the package regarding recovery of missing persons and those Baloch leaders who are in exile as only those missing people would be released and return of those leaders in exile would be facilitated against whom there is no charge.

“This is very much clear that real circles of power are not ready for any concession or negotiations with hardliners” observers added.

After rejection of all important nationalist forces of Balochistan independent political observers are not optimistic that package could make any breakthrough for solving longstanding issues of Balochistan.

However, leaders of PPP are hopeful saying that the package should be seen as a good start for the solution of problems of Balochistan. “No matter if anyone opposes the package, we have to deliver for the common people of Balochistan” said Senator Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani, Balochistan President of the ruling PPP.

(Bari Baloch is a journalist based in Quetta)