A
situation akin to 1971 is brewing in Balochistan. Radical nationalists
advocating a separate state of Balochistan are steadily gaining
popularity at the expense of those who continue to look for a solution
within the federal framework.
(Source: FORUM-ASIA member HRCP, 3 November 2009)
A
situation akin to 1971 is brewing in Balochistan. Radical nationalists
advocating a separate state of Balochistan are steadily gaining
popularity at the expense of those who continue to look for a solution
within the federal framework.

The reasons for this surge in
separatism are quite apparent. The people of Balochistan have a long
list of grievances, and next to none have been addressed over the last
60 years. Instead of negotiations and redressing the wrongs, successive
Pakistani governments have resorted to brute force in the form of five
military operations starting as early as 1948.

The 1973
constitution provided for complete provincial autonomy within ten
years. To date, this remains a meaningless promise on paper.

In
fact, Balochistan continues to be ruled as a colony, its resources
benefiting the federal government and dominant provinces.
Grueling poverty and deprivation defines much of the province. 88% of
the population of Balochistan is under the poverty line. Balochistan
has the lowest literacy rate, the lowest school enrollment ratio, the
lowest educational attainment index, and the lowest health index
relative to the other provinces. 78% of the population has no access to
electricity, and 79% has no access to natural gas. The federal
government's presence is made apparent not through public welfare
activities, but through violence and aggression. A large number of
military and paramilitary troops (upwards of 37,000) have been
stationed in different parts of the province and state-perpetrated
violence has become a common feature of the political landscape of
Balochistan. Disappearance of political activists and extrajudicial
killings has become all too common. It is stating the obvious that such
a situation has given rise to alienation, extreme resentment, and a
feeling of enslavement to the Pakistani state.

As the injustices, crimes, rapes and genocide of 1971 unfolded
before our eyes, too many Pakistanis were silent. Today, as Balochistan
treads down the same path, we are again silent. We are, as were then,
beneficiaries of the economic exploitation. Sui gas is available in our
homes but there is none in most of Balochistan. Revenues collected from
goods and services originating in Balochistan are spent elsewhere.

As
conscious citizens who recognize the injustice, and indeed the danger,
in this, we demand that the following steps be taken by the federal
government so as to end the oppression of the people of Balochistan.

1. An
   immediate and complete cessation of military and paramilitary actions
   in all parts of Balochistan, withdrawal of the military and
   paramilitary forces to their barracks, and reduction of military and
   paramilitary forces to the level of the year 2000. No more cantonments
   should be built in Balochistan.
2. An immediate end to the
   torture, harassment, abduction and murders of the activists of
   Balochistan. All activists must be released unconditionally, and total
   amnesty should be declared for those who took up arms to defend their
   right and honour. Over 1300 people of Balochistan have been
   'disappeared' – they must be produced in court as per the directives of
   the Supreme Court, and judicial inquiry made into their
   'disappearances', their conditions during the period of
   'disappearance', and the legality or illegality of these acts.
3. The
   provisions of 1973 constitution pertaining to provincial autonomy
   should be enacted immediately, giving Balochistan and all other
   provinces control over all but four areas of governance (defense,
   communications, currency, and foreign affairs). The Concurrent Lists
   should be abolished.
4. The people of Balochistan should be the
   first beneficiaries of their resources. Oil and gas originating in the
   province should first benefit the people of the province and then the
   rest of the country. A formula for sharing resources should be worked
   out to the satisfaction of all provinces.
5. Comprehensive public
   infrastructure including schools, colleges, hospitals, water supply
   systems, roads, etc, must be built. Special attention must be given to
   creating a skilled labour force among the people of Balochistan that is
   capable of assuming professional responsibilities at every level.
6. Land
   owned or acquired by the armed forces for 'strategic' purposes should
   be handed back to the provincial government. Construction of all new
   cantonments should cease immediately.Likewise, all large 'development'
   projects, including Gwadar, should be put on hold until the conflict is
   resolved and reservations of the people of Balochistan have been
   addressed.
7. The 80,000 or so people reportedly displaced by successive military operations should be rehabilitated immediately.
8. Political
   manipulation at all levels by the federal government and intelligence
   agencies, including pitching tribes and political groups against each
   other, should cease immediately.
9. Priority should be given to
   the people of Balochistan in staffing all institutions, particularly
   government, in Balochistan. The federal quota for the people of
   Balochistan should also be increased.
10. The people of
    Balochistan should be compensated for the economic exploitation that
    they have been subject to for the past 60 years.

The
situation in Balochistan is grave and demands for independence are
growing stronger. The above steps are the minimum that must necessarily
be taken if justice is to be done. If they are not taken, then self
determination will be the logical and justified demand of the people of
Balochistan. It is high time that Pakistan woke up.

We sign this to express our agreement with the above statement and demands.