While two terrorist groups have taken responsibility for the failed suicide attack on Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani, both the CM and Governor Zulfiqar Magsi have used the occasion to deliver the toughest ever message to Baloch extremists. What has caused the strong reaction is that a spokesman of Baloch Liberation United Front (BLUF) has claimed responsibility of the incident while last week Nawab Magsi had also narrowly escaped a remote controlled bomb attack near Kalat, subsequently owned by Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
So far the people being killed by the so-called freedom fighters were commoners from other provinces, particularly Punjab and Hazara, belonging to a minority community. Among those being gunned down with impunity were doctors, teachers and petty officials as well as the poorest of the poor including barbers, hairdressers, washermen and labourers. The provincial government was, however, never pushed beyond issuing routine condemnations. Now by attacking two powerful tribal chieftains the Baloch separatists have crossed the red line. An exasperated Raisani has told the extremists they would even find no shelter in mountains if the latest trend in attacks was not checked. We can also go to the mountains with weapons. If they think they are strong, they must remember that we are also quite strong. Nawab Magsi was equally clear on the type of reprisals that would follow if attacks on chieftains continued. A tribal force, he said, would be formed to take revenge. Not to be left behind, the provincial assembly has promptly condemned the attack issuing a warning that any attempts to harm Raisani and Magsi will have serious repercussions since they are both Nawabs.
Besides being tribal chiefs, Raisani and Magsi also happen to be the two top most figures in the Balochistan Administration. They are, thus, supposed to be responsible for providing security of life and property to all those who live in Balochistan irrespective of the province or religious sect they belong to. While one appreciates the vigour that the two political leaders are displaying after being personally targeted, one is constrained to observe that if they had reacted with similar alacrity when common people were being ruthlessly killed, the state of law and order would have been much better in Balochistan by now.
