check najam sethi editorial on baluchistan pacakage.

Balochistan package

The government on Tuesday presented the much-awaited Balochistan package to parliament. The package comprises constitutional, political, administrative and economic recommendations. It states that the government is “conscious that the provinces have a sense of deprivation in the political and economic structures of the federation” and that the provisions of the 1973 Constitution related to federation-province relations were circumvented in the past. The package talks about giving provincial autonomy to Balochistan and abolishing the concurrent list. It also recommends that the under-construction cantonments at Sui and Kohlu in the Bugti and Marri areas respectively be halted for the present, and the military be withdrawn, to be replaced by the FC. The package also deals with the issue of missing people. It says that the list of missing persons would be investigated and if they are found in custody, would be released. The government has also assured that there would be no political victimisation. Among other things, there would be an inquiry by the superior judiciary into the murders of Nawab Akbar Bugti, Baloch political workers, and target killing in the province.

It is indeed a welcome move that for the first time any government has realised that in order to safeguard the federation, it has to seriously address the Balochistan issue. For the first time, a government has recognised the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Balochistan and promised to rehabilitate them. Balochistan has been gravely neglected in the past and victimised. With the insurgency in Balochistan registering its presence time and again, the issue of provincial autonomy has finally assumed critical importance. Bringing normalcy to Balochistan may not be as easy a task as may appear because the people of Balochistan carry a history of neglect, exploitation and repression. The Baloch people have been fighting for their rights through political and constitutional means for nearly three decades after the military action of the 1970s and only frustration with that fruitless process persuaded a new generation to take up arms again. The Centre has finally been forced to consider the question of provincial autonomy and equitable distribution of resources. Despite being the richest province in terms of natural resources, including gas and minerals, successive governments have been denying the benefits of these riches to the local population of Balochistan. The government has now promised to settle the arrears of gas royalty owed to the province. It has also promised that all new mega projects would be initiated with the consent and approval of the provincial government. Balochistan’s share in the projects’ profits/benefits has also been assured. This is indeed a welcome move because in the past, the federal government did not involve the local people in any project, two prominent examples being Gwadar Port and the Saindak project.

With this government’s conciliatory and mature approach towards the issues facing the country, it is hoped that Balochistan’s grievances will finally be addressed. However, some of the provisions of the package may work against its thrust of reconciliation. For example, the leaders in exile are welcome to come home without fear of prosecution, except those who have serious charges against them. Similarly, political prisoners are to be released except those with serious charges against them. That leaves out all the prominent leaders in exile and most of the political workers in custody, whether acknowledged or ‘missing’. This will hardly work to bring a healing touch to the troubled province. The government must talk to the actual protagonists to bring about real change in the province.

That said, the government must be appreciated for bringing forth a package that addresses the most important issues related to a province that has been neglected and hard done by for the last six decades. The Baloch people deserve relief after successive military operations and exploitation at the hands of the Centre. *

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IiGN6Yiofk ————–Joke:— Once a newly wed bride told to her closed friend/saheeli after coming back from their Murree Hill Side Honeymoon as these both above were behaving with each other as lovebirds anyway as she was telling about the events of her honeymoon period – her saheeli/friend asked how the honeymoon was — how did she spent days & nights over-there? The newly bride told to her friend – “I remember only one thing & i.e. only Ceiling of the Room where she stayed with her husband.” ——- So that in the matter of these Jiyala – Don’t forget they are namely AZ & RM who —REMEMBER— only one thing how to make money?

Oh Yes MS — there is no need to waste further any single second as their/Baluchis sufferings have been crossed their LIMITs so in a nut shell if these sentences are said. “Yeh Karien Gay- Aaisa Hoga Waisa Hoga-” I mean to say for such sentences TIME has already been passed away whatever this Government or as you suggested NS & Co go over there & moreover has to take some Utmost Required Actions on spur of the same moment.

Yes You Abay O Gunjo - Nawaz Sharif — Don’t go with mainstream! Pakistani people are better as “neighborhood” not “Hollywood, Bollywood or at Lollywood”. if you go mainstream you go money maker! That’s why I like all such Political Talk Show Conductors and other Analysts. They care about Muslims Ummah and not money.