Hyrbyair’s fresh stance on Balochistan

By Anwar Sajidi

Nawabzada Hyrbyair Marri has been resident abroad for a long period. For the last four years he has lived in London. Two years ago, at the behest of the government of Pakistan, cases had been registered against him and Faiz Baloch, but they were exonerated by the courts. However the British government has restricted their travel abroad. Hyrbyair Marri claims that he is working as the Baloch representative or ambassador to the outside world. There is no doubt that Nawabzada Hyrbryair and his family have always played an important role in the Baloch national movement. His elder brother, Mir Balach was martyred during the struggle. Nawab saheb [Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri] himself has been occupied in the struggle continuously since his release from jail in 1978. During the 1980s he emigrated to Afghanistan but after the dissolution of the Soviet Union his exile, and that of thousands of members of his Marri tribe, could not prove fruitful. In 1992 he returned from Afghanistan because his life was under threat from Dostum’s Jowzjani militia.

On return, Nawab saheb launched a movement, Baloch Haq ‘Twar, but he was unable to develop it to any significance. He did state clearly however that he has nothing to do with Pakistan, its politics, and its institutions – even though he has participated in general elections during 1956-1962 and 1971.

During his arrest in the Justice Nawaz case, when the Baloch movement was quite weak, Mir Balach stepped forward and gave the movement support. Articles on the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) that were written by Pakistani and foreign journalists on the Internet had claimed that Balach Marri was the head of BLA. According to these articles, BLA was formed during the Gorbachev period, but after the dissolution of the Soviet Union Britain, and to a lesser extent the United States, were taking interest in it. But the fate of Balach Marri proved that he did not enjoy any major international support. It was seen however that after the martyrdom of Balach Marri the resistance movement in the Marri became weak to the point that it more or less ceased completely. After the death of Balach, Nawab saheb had said to his visitors that the movement now needs Hyrbyair. But Hyrbyair preferred to stay in England. He is the first person who has made significant efforts to introduce the Baloch national movement at the international level. He met members of the British Parliament, sent memoranda to the European Union member countries, and organized a number of seminars. Yet indications are that his return is not possible under present conditions.

For some time now Nawabzada Hyrbyair Marri has been expressing his views in interviews on Pakistani electronic media. For some time now his language had been unequivocal and harsh. But two days ago, in the interview he gave to Geo TV’s Sana Bucha, although his apparent position was unchanged his conversation lacked the “rhythm” that was there earlier [see press coverage]. In his last interview he had said that ending the occupation of Balochistan and withdrawal were the only issues that could be discussed with the rulers of Pakistan, but in his new interview he announced in no uncertain terms that he believed in the solution of the Balochistan issue through negotiations. He justified this on the grounds that he was doing this to prevent bloodshed. Although he said that the basic topic of negotiations would be independence, but the stress was not on the word independence.

In another newspaper interview Hyrbyair had revealed that there were differences among the movements in favour of independence. He did not elaborate on who the parties were among whom there were these differences. A number of questions have arisen from his ambiguous statement because at this time the Baloch national front (BNF) is working on the political front. BNF includes BRP [Baloch Republican Party], BNM [Baloch National Movement], BSO Azad, and Marri Ittehad [Anjuman Ittehad-e-Marri], while Nawabzada Mir Brahamdagh Khan Buti and Dr. Mir Allah Nazar are leading the resistance movement as field commanders. The question is among whom are these differences? Between Hyrbyair and Brahamdagh, or between Dr. Allah Nazar and him? Is BNM’s point of view different from his? These questions can only be answered by Hyrbyair.

In any event, as I wrote some months ago, the Baloch issue is about to enter an important stage. That stage has come. The Zardari government is engaged in negotiations behind the scenes or through “backdoor channels”. These contacts are taking place in Dubai, London, and Kabul. At the same time they are being denied. Whatever the result, something is happening. If something is happening then the respected leaders should take the Baloch nation into confidence. If they are engaged in secret negotiations then they should communicate what is the subject of these negotiations? On what terms are the discussions taking place? If they deny it, then they should make a formal announcement so there is no ambiguity surrounding this.

Whatever the case may be, the Baloch have seen such rises and falls in their history. They have been struggling for two thousand years to preserve their identity. In this long history many leaders came and went away. Some remained steadfast, some lost their footing, some were martyred, and some escaped from the battlefield. But the Baloch people continued along only one path. Their steps never faltered. Although leaders have an important role to play in struggles for national preservation, they are not more important than the nation. Whoever leads a struggle, supports it, or sacrifices for it, doesn’t do anyone a favour; each one has his role to play.

The time has come when Mir Brahmdagh, Dr. Allah Nazar, and Asa Zafar [BNM] explain fully the situation and reveal the reality to the nation. This is what will be the best for the movement.

(The writer is the Executive Editor of Daily Intekhab, Quetta and this article originally appeared in Urdu in Daily Intekhab on 15 Jan 2010. The views expressed by the writer are his own and the Baloch Hal team may not necessarily agree with the views expressed by the writer)