Balochistan has been simmering for decades due to the collective follies of the civil and military regimes. We now see the issue being discussed in the US Congress and some day we might find it being debated on the floor of other countries’ assemblies too if we continue to ignore the problem.
The right of the people of Balochistan to a representative government has always been ignored. Even democratic governments did nothing to address this problem. At present, among the 64 members of the provincial assembly, only 14 belong to the PPP but it is still running the government in Balochistan. The security forces have also failed to make any concerted efforts to arrest the deteriorating law and order situation. The killing-and-dumping practice goes on unchecked.
It’s unfortunate that while our political parties don’t waste any time in uniting on issues in which their interests are involved, the latest 20th Amendment being a case in point, they fail to do anything concrete about issues which pose a threat to the integrity of the country.
The only way forward now is to hold an all parties conference on the Balochistan problem, initiate dialogue with all Bloch leaders and give them not only their due share but more than that.
TARIQ HUSAIN KHAN
Karachi