Another
negotiations offer
Newly installed
Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo has offered yet another
olive branch to the self-exiled Baloch leaders. Being the youngest chief
minister ever to grace the seat of power in Quetta as a result of the ousting
of former chief minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri, Mir Bizenjo is sufficiently
cognizant of the traditions of Baloch tribal society to speak of the self-exiled
leaders with the respect expected, especially the Khan of Kalat, Agha Suleman Dawood
Ahmedzai. The other dissident leaders were described by Mir Bizenjo as sons of
the soil, which casts their credentials in an unusual patriotic light. The Khan
went into exile some time ago promising to bring up Balochistan’s case before
the International Court of Justice. Not much headway has been apparent in this
cry from the heart at the situation prevailing in the Khan’s home province for
many years now. While the offer of renewed negotiations with the self-exiled
leaders appears appropriate if an end to the troubles in Balochistan is aimed
at, there are many questions revolving around the present and past such offers.
It may be recalled that when Dr Abdul Malik of the National Party was chief
minister (a tenure he shared with his successor Nawab Zehri of the PML-N), he
too tried to reach out to the exiled leaders. In fact it was reported at the time
that he had travelled to London to meet the Khan and all other exiles to be
found there. However, Dr Malik’s well intentioned peace making foray ran aground
when he could not satisfy his exiled fellow Baloch whether he had the mandate
and power to implement the commitments he was prepared to make regarding the
exiles’ honourable return and respectful treatment at home. This was in the
context of the by now well known fact that it is the military that calls the
shots in Pakistan’s poorest and most troubled province, particularly where the
nationalist insurgency is concerned. Not much has changed on the ground since,
which makes Mir Bizenjo’s effort open to question too. Only time will tell
whether this new offer is more than ritual noises.
One case of an
exile returnee is evoking great interest. The late nationalist giant Nawab
Khair Buksh Marri’s son Gazain Marri returned from almost two decades of
self-imposed exile some months ago. It was not clear whether he had negotiated
the terms of his return with the authorities. Certainly his initial arrest on
arrival at the Quetta airport raised eyebrows. Since then, the government of
Nawab Zehri that seemed interested in his incarceration is gone and the courts
have either acquitted or granted bail to him in the cases against him. A free
Gazain is a rare poster for the reconciliation policy. That policy has yielded,
it is claimed, the surrender of over 2,000 insurgents over the last two years,
although independent observers are sceptical about the credentials of those who
purportedly have come in out of the cold. Speaking of posters, the Free
Balochistan variety that appeared in public spaces and on transport in the UK
and then the US have been removed by those governments, with the US in
particular emphasising that it upholds and respects Pakistan’s sovereignty and
territorial integrity. However, there is little room for complacency here as
the human rights concerns about Balochistan, including the phenomenon of
disappearances and extra-judicial executions could cause problems with the west
sooner or later. Logic and the greater national interest suggest that there is
no escape from engaging with the insurgents at home and the exile leaders
abroad if the fire in our house that allegedly opens the door to foreign
interference, particularly Indian, is to be doused. Of course this does not
mean accepting separatism but within the four corners of our constitution and
laws, there is much middle ground for negotiation. Separatism has been fuelled
by a sense of grievances unaddressed. If these can be taken up and addressed in
the manner indicated above, it could offer hope of a genuine negotiated
political settlement of Balochistan’s troubles, to the satisfaction of all
stakeholders.
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