[Dawn] A POWERFUL explosion in the Dera Allahyar area of Jaffarabad district, Balochistan, on Independence Day was a grim reminder of the ongoing problems in the province. At least 14 people were killed in the attack on the two-storey restaurant building frequented by labourers and workers. There was no obvious target at first glance -- except local reports suggest that the national anthem and other pro-Pakistan songs were being played at the restaurant, and quite likely drew the ire of separatist militants. A hitherto unknown group, the Baloch Liberation Tigers, has claimed responsibility for the attack, but given the area -- Jaffarabad district -- suspicion has immediately fallen on Bugti insurgents. Offshoots of the Balochistan Republican Army, led by Brahmdagh Bugti from exile in Switzerland, have been known to claim attacks under various names. And Monday brought more violence against Baloch by Baloch as the Balochistan Liberation Front, believed to be the militant arm of the Baloch Students Organisation (Azad), claimed responsibility for two dead bodies which were discovered in a Quetta neighbourhood. The two men were allegedly killed for being informants of the state security apparatus.
Independence Day also brought a reminder, if one was needed, of the sins committed by the state against the Baloch. In an address to the nation from Islamabad, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said that the government had decided to release all 'political prisoners' if they were not wanted in any other cases. The prime minister did not clarify who he was referring to as political prisoners, though. Are they the 'missing persons' believed to be picked up by the security and intelligence apparatus in Balochistan and kept in illegal custody?
The missing persons' issue and an amnesty for Baloch insurgents are believed to be key to any process of reconciliation in Balochistan, so if the prime minister was hinting at some movement on one of those issues, it would be a welcome breakthrough. Then again, the prime minister and his government have established a reputation for promising much and delivering little. In the Balochistan context, the Aghaz-i-Huqooq-i-Balochistan package was announced with much fanfare in November 2009, but has delivered little in real terms. And in the meantime, a campaign of extrajudicial judicial killings in the province -- so-called 'kill and dump' operations -- has injected a new poisonous element into Baloch-state relations. With violence committed by both sides, the Baloch extremists and the state, fairly well established by now, the only plausible solution has also been apparent for some time: the political leadership must play its role in any reconciliation. Thus far, however, there has been no leadership from the political class.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/17/2011 00:00 ||
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[Dawn] IT seems that governments in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... Punjab and Sindh have learned few lessons from the havoc wreaked by last year's floods. The monsoons that have enveloped much of Pakistain in recent days have once again caused untold misery, especially in rural Sindh, forcing people to abandon their homes and leave behind their precious livestock. The people displaced, yet again, will be lucky if they can find their cattle alive when they are able to return home to salvage what they can. Also lost will be standing crops and seed stock for the next season. And where has the government been most of this time? Almost non-existent and largely conspicuous by its absence. What we hear are officious noises and little else while people who were already impoverished have to find some way to secure a square meal at least once a day. And once they return to their wrecked homes, will the authorities be there to set them back on their feet? Going by past, and recent, experience that does not seem likely.
After the floods that destroyed so many lives in 2010, it was expected that extraordinary steps would be taken to prevent a repeat this year. It seems that hasn't happened. Official apathy is playing with people's lives not just in the here and now but also the future. A farmer who returns to nothing will be hungry the next year too, leading to cyclical poverty that may be passed on to the next generation. Were embankments reinforced in time for this year's rains? Were drainage systems improved so that lives and property could be protected in the worst-case scenario? Tragically, that does not seem to be the case and the finger of blame must naturally be pointed at both federal and provincial governments that appear to be asleep at the wheel. The breaches in the Left Bank Outfall Drain that inundated some 1,500 villages in Badin ought to have been anticipated in advance. Two years in a row, the government has been found wanting and it needs to answer some pressing questions.
The writer mistakes his government for the kind that cares.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/17/2011 00:00 ||
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#1
Let's see if I can get this straight... some 1,500 villages are built at the bottom of a Moslem DRAIN? Who would be stupid enough to do that? Too many people and a govt. which hasn't a clue about building a prosperous tax base? Sounds like somebody has been reading the Koran to me.
And you feel sorry for these people, right? They would be the first to kill your Infidel ass if they saw you walking into their fair village with your yanqui pig smile. And you only wanted to"help."
Think of it as Allah's way to get rid of the turbans who all live in a big dirt hole in the middle of Mullah Behund.
Go get your morning coffee, and forget about them.
Posted by: de Medici ||
08/17/2011 5:53 Comments ||
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#2
I thought Punjab was in India? Are there two Punjabs?
#3
It's split between Pak & India. Somehow, perhaps Allen's will, India got the prosperous end. Or maybe Indian Punjab has more application and less religion.
Posted by: Fred ||
08/17/2011 8:56 Comments ||
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#4
at least they're Pure and have got Islam, right? Better to spend your gov't money trying to disrupt and subjugate neighboring countries in the Great Game than do wasted efforts like infrastructure that helps protect from "unforeseen" natural disasters that reoccur every other (or every) year
Posted by: Frank G on the road ||
08/17/2011 9:57 Comments ||
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#5
All the aid we've thrown away on them so far doesn't seem to have bought us much good will.
Maybe another couple Billion will make all the difference in the world.
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