Government. Resolution on the Historical and Political Basis of the Baloch Quest for Autonomy

And Self-determination from the point of Peace, Human Rights and Social Justice

Where there is political deprivation, issues of violations of human rights, peace and social justice become vital for social and political discourse. The Baloch question of autonomy has been prominent and has been raised by Baloch leaders and intellectuals as political issue and has been a cause of many repressive actions by the State against the Baloch people. Balochistan means the eastern and south-eastern part of Iran from Dasht e Lut in the west to the lower half of the Indus valley in Pakistan, including the south western part of Afghanistan. Its total area is approximately 340000sq

 

miles and its population is estimated to 20 million. Geographically Balochistan is a part of the Iranian plateau and culturally it forms part of South west Asia, also the area where South Asia ends. The Baloch resisted against Iranian attempts to domination up to 1928 when Raza Shah of Iran subdued them with British support. The eastern part of Balochistan was further divided into British Balochistan, Balochistan states, while a part of Siestan was given over as lease. At the end of the nineteenth century, in greater imperial interests the British negotiated with the Afghan government and decided to draw the Durand line and Goldsmith line which resulted in dividing Blaoch homeland in three parts.

And, in the name of administrative purpose, huge tracts of land from Balochistan were annexed to the provinces of Punjab and Sindh under British control. The land and the people of Balochistan have a distinct national, cultural and political and administrative entity and identity from centuries. By the beginning of the twentieth century territorial changes occurred in this area. Political maps of the world have changed repeatedly to serve the interests of the imperial hegemonic powers. Wars, revolutions, and political movements have brought major shifts in human population and values of various cultures and societies. Many countries have divided and re-divided and new states have emerged as independent states.

Borders have run through cultural and linguistic entities. And thus the national issue of Balochistan was left unresolved. The area of Derjat and Khangarh (Jacobabad) were demarcated and given to British India. Early 20th century when the movement for independence in the Indian subcontinent gathered momentum, the Baloch people also asserted their political and geographical identity. The people of Balochistan under the auspices of Kalat National Party started a movement for their democratic rights. During this period conferences were held highlighting Baloch identity, and the inspiration to sovereignty.

In March 1940, the Lahore resolution was passed by the All India Muslim league which clearly declared that the new potential state of Pakistan would be a federation. At that time Balochistan was an independent state (Kalat State Union), having a bicameral assembly. The issue of annexation was debated and rejected by both the houses of Balochistan parliament. However, a year later after the creation of Pakistan the annexation was forced on the State of Kalat by Pakistan. That created a wave of resentment and political unrest, which resulted into an armed revolt and had to be got quelled by coercion.

In 1920, Mir Abdul Aziz Kurd and Mir Yousuf Ali Khan Magsi initiated a political movement, Anjuman e Ittehad Balochistan (Organization for the unity of Baloch and Balochistan). In 1931 Kalat State National Party was formed by Mir Ghous Bux Bizanjo, the aim of these attempts was to secure United Balochistan. The first Baloch national conference was held in 1932 to shape the future contours of Baloch nationalist agenda which continues till today. The movement has seen various ups and downs in the last hundred years. Political movements of the people have been going on in form of various demands for self-determination and autonomy. On August 11 1947, before the independence of India and Pakistan Balochistan’s Independence was announced by British. On March 27, 1948, Balochistan was annexed by force in Pakistan.

Mr. Ghous Bux Bizanjov, Mir Abdul Aziz Kurd and several other political leaders were jailed or placed under house arrest or exiled. On May 1948, Agha Karim Khan, the governor of Makran, launched a rebellion against Pakistan and went to mountains with numerous members of the National Party. The newly created state of Paksitan did not honor its resolve to achieve a true and genuine federal political arrangement. The political and administrative structure was highly centralized. The rights of smaller groups and federating units were denied by the Punjabi ruling clique. Pakistan's ruling elite treated all nationalist movements, particularly Baloch nationalist struggle, as a threat to the state and the so-called ‘national security’. The establishment reacted to all political movements with strong oppressive measures.

Baloch struggled for political recognition has continued till now in different forms and strategies that have included constitutional struggles also. Unfortunately the constitutional attempts have remained unsuccessful – one instance being the first elected Baloch nationalist government in Pakistan, headed by Sardar Ataulla Mengal, which was forcibly dissolved by the Federal Government forcefully eight months of its establishment, with majority of the members of assembly being put behind bars.

Two elected provincial governments in Balochistan were broken down by power and conspiracy. Balochistan has gone through four armed conflicts since 1948. The discrimination against Balochistan in term of resource allocation, government services, education, and development of basic infrastructure has been conspicuous from the beginning. One hundred years of continued human rights violation and oppression has reduced the indigenous Baloch population into a ‘minority’.

The people of Balochistan see the recent development projects another threat to their livelihood and political aspirations. It is feared that these projects will result into greater displacement of Baloch people and an inward migration of others, which will be again a blow to demography of Baloch population. The nuclear blasts and defense programs of Pakistan have made the people poorer and more vulnerable. The present traditional Baloch society has a number of inherited structural discriminations.

The hierarchy of tribe, caste, clan and patriarchy is reflected in various forms of oppression within the society at various levels. The colonial system provided full support to the tribal ruling class and strengthened and contributed to the perpetuation of tribalism. The ruling elite of Pakistan and Iran have also joined hands with the tribal ruling class to continue the system based on undemocratic values.

The worst form of discrimination and violation of rights can be witnessed against women in present Baloch society. The patriarchy is so strong that women are being killed in the name of honor and treated as third class citizens. Their mobility is extremely restricted which has resulted in marginalization of women at all levels of society including their access to information, education, resources and to the decision making institutions. Women’s participation and representation is also negligible in all spheres of state and society. The notion of peace in the present Baloch context is intriguing.

The grievances of the ordinary citizens of Balochistan remain un-addressed. The post 1977 situation has worsened the plight of people. This is a continuous phase of human rights violations, which include torture and extrajudicial killings. Nuclear tests and missile tests in Balochistan have created health sufferings, drought, displacements and rising insecurities. The neighboring Shia fundamentalism in Iran and Sunni fundamentalism in Punjab are threatening the traditional secular society of Baloch where Hindus, Christians, Zikris and Sunnis had lived for long in relative peace. In the structure of decision-making the Baloch has no representation, so development and all related policies are against the existence of Baloch people.

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One day I was watching a program on National Geographic channel. The program was about birds. While watching the program, I saw a fearful snake climbing a tree. Birds had nested on the same tree. This was why the snake was making an effort to prey upon the small birds. As soon as the birds saw the snake, they started attacking on it in order to defend themselves. Firstly, the snake did not pay a single heed to their effort, but their continuous struggle defeated the snake and killed it.

Having considered the above example, one knows that the sense of self-defense makes the weakest man brave.

In citing the above instance, I want to let you (the reader) know that the same is being done with the Baloch in Karachi. They have been treated like dirt. They have been compelled to leave their native houses and settle in other places. And so for they have managed to make the Baloch people abandon their houses easily.

From 1947 till today, several pretexts have been concocted in order to make the native residents flee- especially the Baloch. There are hundreds of examples to be quoted but I just want to present some of them. After Pakistan came into being, Quaid-e-Azam met his Maker. So the problem of his burial appeared.

Eventually, a Baloch village "Kiamatsar" was selected for the very purpose. The Baloch of Kiamatsar were forced to leave their houses. After the Baloch left, the Quaid was buried there.

Today this place is known as the "Mazar-e-Quaid". Afterwards, the residents of Kiamatsar (Baloch) went and settled in on Jahangir Road. The said congested place is their "permanent" residency. The nation which sacrificed its indigenous place for the burial of the Quaid is widely known as daraamad (strange) and treated like third class citizens. Where is justice?

Before Pakistan was born, English destroyed the lands of the very area. Why? Since they wanted to "construct" airports. Afterwards, the English people left this place. Today our tyrant leaders have taken two steps forward to maintain their (English people's) so-called "policy". They destroyed thousand acres of land which belonged to Baloch nation. Why? Because they wanted to bring "development" in the region. On the contrary, the human rights activists have turned a deaf ear.

After the construction of the airports, no Baloch was employed - not even as porters! Leave alone the posts for pilots, etc.

When the "Bread, Cloth, and House" slogan holder wallah (Bhutto) thought of "development" in the country, he made a Steel Mill. For the construction of the Steel Mill, Baloch were forced to leave their houses. Their lands were captured; instead, they got nothing in the least. I still remember the day when thirty years ago we went to a village: "Rodain Baloch Mitag". That was lush green all around. Their goats used to graze there. Today there are only very few people since most of them were coerced into leaving. The remnants are faced with hundreds of problems; water is a prime example. However, they are getting a little water and this credit goes to the leaky pipes of Port Qasim. That's the only "potable" water they get.

A few days ago, I met a Baloch in Sindh High Court. He has been in search of insaaf (justice) since 1970. For his lands were captured; since ever he has lost satisfaction.

After the division of subcontinent, the lands of Baloch were given to the new comers.

The so-called leaders prefer animals to Baloch. Once there used to stand a "Modhi Mitag"; but now there stands a park in the name of "Supari Park". Till today the residents of the very area are burdened with hardships. Last month their houses were broken down. Why? Because people's (i.e. Baloch's) "interruptions" to animals can't be "endured" by the leaders. The Baloch have eyes on adaalat (court) in order to achieve insaaf (justice). But, on the contrary, there demand has fallen on deaf ears.

The "New Sabzi Mandi" replaced "Gud Aap" - a Baloch mitag (village). Firstly, there were a few Baloch in the committee of Sabzi Mandi. But, afterwards, the "well-wishers" of Baloch nation "sensed" that they might not be able to do more injustice to Baloch, so they raised another problem: the allotment of shops. Then the lands were distributed to outsiders. Subsequently, the military meddled and postponed the previous allotments; most of them belonged to Baloch. Instead, people were brought over there from other places. The Baloch that were a part of the committee remained mute. It is still a mystery that why they (Baloch) did not utter a single word.

Canals in Malir were in full spate then. This is why they were known as "Wangy". Because of full-availability of water, people called that place "Sharrapi"; today it's common as "Sharaafi". That place has been made an industrial area. On account of this, cultivation is a rarity and people are totally jobless. People form different regions have been posted to jobs in factories and mills of that area. But the Baloch even whose personal lands were snatched are the sufferers.

Yet again a new conspiracy is being created i.e. "Lyari Expressway". As a reaction to Baloch people's protest, the governor of Sindh stated in a newspaper statement that all the "obstacles" would be removed. It means Baloch are their "obstacles" and they would easily and quickly kick them off. Does "development" mean to break down people's houses and deprive them of their lands?

Why don't they (the people who have planned the "Expressway" mansooba) construct it in those areas where foreigners have come and settled in? They have made their own colonies. Why don't they stop the burgeoning population of Karachi? Today Karachi is heavily teeming with Afghans, Bengalis, Indians, and people from other regions who have entered by illegal means. Why are they allowed?

Obviously, they are posing a grave threat to the city and have made it exceedingly polluted. Who brought Punjabis and Pathans in the era of Ayub Khan? In Zia's regime, "Jul Karachi, Muck Kamai" or (go to Karachi and earn a lot) was a common slogan.

Bumper-to-bumper traffic is yet another problem; terrorism and violence can't be neglected, for both of them are at the peak. Who's to be held accountable? The out comers, indeed.

If the leaders have sympathy for the city and the citizens, if they want to eradicate pollution, they are supposed to turn to those areas where people of foreign origins reside. Then the "construction" will be purposeful and productive.

It is high time they (the leaders) stopped doing further harms to the hapless and much devastated Baloch nation. Teasing the Baloch nation would not do them good anymore; rather it would cause more tussle and venom.

Our leaders talk about the "due rights" of Kashmiris and Afghans openly, but when it comes to Baloch people's rights, they become mute and immobile.

Being aboriginal inhabitants of the country, Baloch do deserve more than Kashmiris and Afghans and leaders must realize it.

It is also incumbent upon all Baloch students, intellectuals and scholars, labourers, political and social workers, poets and writers, doctors, engineers, and farmers to get united and ask for the due rights of Baloch nation.