Who speaks for the Baloch of DG Khan?

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PakistanToday
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As our government mulls over the questionable fate of the Seraiki province, protests have erupted all over the country with calls for all kinds of provinces – provinces based on ethnicities, provinces based on “administrative grounds”, provinces based on linguistic differences. So while there are calls to permanently damage Pakistan’s already-frayed map, here are my two cents on a concern Maula Fazalur Rehman raised at the meeting where the commission came up with recommendations for the new province.

A brief history of Dera Ghazi Khan is in order. The city goes back as far as 1476 when Baloch chieftain Nawab Ghazi Khan Mirani declared independence from the Langah Dynasty of Multan. Along with two other deras (encampments) – Dera Ismail Khan and Dera Fateh Khan – Derajat was born.

Derajat eventually came into the possession of the British rule after the Sikh War of 1849. It was then divided into two districts, Dera Ismail Khan and Dera Ghazi Khan. A little known fact about this division is that the tribal leaders were presented the option of going with Balochistan or Punjab. The Baloch leaders of DG Khan, under an agreement with the British rulers, chose to side with Punjab. While the exact terms of the agreement are not known, the general principles of the agreement were that the tribal leaders would be allowed to continue to uphold their Jirga traditions and largely remain separate from direct government intervention in their affairs. This is, of course, largely conjecture but a layman in DG Khan today would tell you the same story. There is also a widely held view that another agreement was signed at the time of the partition with similar conditions.

Naturally, both these agreements do not stand anymore. However, the Baloch presence in Southern Punjab is still there. The population of DG Khan today roughly comprises of 80 percent Baloch. This is largely due to the proximity of Balochistan to the city – Dera Ghazi Khan is nestled right at the tail of Suleiman Range that opens in Punjab. These are not the Seraiki speaking Baloch, as is the widely-held belief. Instead, Balochi is the commonly spoken language of the area. Another reason for the large number of the Baloch in the city is the presence of the Baloch tribal families and their landholdings surrounding the region.

So, if this new province is being created along ethnic lines, it is surprising that no one has taken into account the presence of the Baloch in the new Seraiki province. Who is going to speak for them? There has been no survey conducted to see if the people of Southern Punjab actually want the new province, let alone a referendum, giving a choice to the Baloch of the province to side with Balochistan if they so wanted.

Naturally, one would ask why DG Khan would want to go over to Balochistan. That province, after all, is in deep turmoil itself. There is little economic growth and development, poor law and order situation and a generally volatile ethnic balance.

It is precisely for this very reason that DG Khan going under the provincial control of Balochistan might just end up benefitting Balochistan and DG Khan.

While Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan in terms of area, it is also the poorest. Balochistan has the lowest literacy rate among all of Pakistan’s provinces. According to National Economic Survey, the province also has the least number of educational institutions, the lowest literacy rate among both males and females, the lowest ranking in the Gender Parity Index (GPI) and the smallest presence of private educational institutes in the country. Furthermore, about six percent of the schools in Balochistan do not have buildings, nine percent lack electricity, 12 percent are devoid of clean drinking water and 11 percent are without proper latrine.

So now imagine a city, a relatively poor city of Punjab, entering Balochistan’s sphere. This city has a literacy rate of 60 percent – quite a feat for such a small, poor district. There are at least 15 different institutes in the city. There is a medical school, a college of agriculture, several law institutes, colleges of commerce and colleges of education. Furthermore, there are a number of public and private sector primary education institutes functioning in the area.

Similarly, the economy in Dera Ghazi Khan is relatively rich for such a small city. It is located in rich agricultural land with cotton, wheat, sugarcane, rice, tobacco being the major crops being grown. The city is also famous for its dates. Furthermore, the city has access to other parts of the country via railway, including Multan, Lahore, Karachi and Quetta.

One cannot, as well, forget the all-important DG Khan Cement Company Limited, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, the Al-Ghazi Tractors and Rahim Bux Textile Mills. A commonly held, if also commonly forgotten, belief is that these companies along with several other flour, cotton, chemical and rice mills in the area form the backbone of Punjab.

Balochistan, as a province, could do well with a city that boasts of educational and economic development. And DG Khan, similarly, could do well with Balochistan as its vital city, bustling with economic growth and educational strength (yes, I am hinting as DG Khan being the capital city of Balochistan). One must not forget that Balochistan also has a vast supply of natural gas, coal and other minerals. Other untapped aspects of Balochistan’s economy are fisheries, mining, manufacturing industries and trade. With a close proximity to Punjab via DG Khan, and with the benefits of DG Khan pouring in to Balochistan, the Baloch on either side of the Suleiman Range could do well together.

DG Khan also has a relatively balanced ethnic ratio. It is a safer and more stable city. Balochistan, as a province, needs a city like that under its sphere. And DG Khan, as a city, needs a stronger recognition and a presence in a province that would actually benefit from it.

So while our leaders mull and debate and while our intellectuals tweet and argue, the question remains, who will speak for the Baloch of DG Khan? What is their place in the new Seraiki province, when they, after all, not Seraiki?

The writer is a research analyst at Spearhead Research and tweets at @aimamk. This article was also carried by Spearhead Research

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43 COMMENTS

  1. with due sorry aima I would like to tell you that your cast link politicians do not pay attention on their tribes and city

    • But they do!! They find development projects and pocket the monies….see how rich they have gotten off the backs of locals!!!

  2. "Derajat eventually came into the possession of the British rule after the Sikh War of 1849"

    Ah, let's not forget HOW DGK fell into the hands of the British: it was the Khosaswho conquered it for their British allies, no kidding (see the official record compiled in “A Year on The Punjab Frontier in 1848-49“ by Major Herbert B. Edwards; see the May 2, 1948 entry)

    "The Baloch leaders of DG Khan, under an agreement with the British rulers, chose to side with Punjab."
    Incorrect again me thinks, if one is to believe the inscription on the monument celebrating this "siding with Punjab".that even exists today in Fort Munroe, summer home of the Khosa and Leghari Sardars (see HERE). It happened in 1950!!! So the Baloch Sardars certainly lost that right long time ago and ought to shut up….sure, no issu with asking the Baloch of the area….
    (continued…)
    .

  3. No one in islamic state with such heavy presence of islamic parties fortified by taliban and like need unduly concern him/herself about their rights which are mandated by Allah.

  5. I strongly disapprove the views of Aima Khosa. She has distorted not only the facts but also tried to mar the major opinion of Dera-wal. DG Khan k ba-shaoor awam alag sooba chahtay hain chahay uska naam Saraiki ho ya BJP ya South Punjab ya Punjnad….is se koi farq nahin parta. Lahore aur Islamabad me bethay ameezaday aur ameerzadian aisay fazool column likh kr aur biyanat day kr alag soobay ki tehrik ko sabotaj krna chahtay hain. DG Khan, DI Khan aur Rajanpur k log janubi punjab soobay k sath hain. Columnist ki ghalt fehmi door krnay k liay batata chaloon k DG Khan k 100% log Saraiki boltay aur samajhtay hain, sirf Koh-e-suleman per abad Baloch aur bahut kum maidani ilakoon k Baloch hi Balochi bol saktay hain. Approximately 95% logoon ki mother tongue Saraiki hai….mazay ki baat hai k 90 % se ziadi logoon ko Balochi bilkul nahin aati. Yahan k logoon ki aksriat Baloch zaroor hai mgar sadioon se Saraiki culture aur language ko adapt kar chukay hain. Gher se door rehnay ki waja se ya nasli ta-assub ki bunyad per Aima jaisay log yeh baat bilkul nahin samajh saktay k yahan ka mutalba he alag soobay ka hai….

    • @shaheen baloch , apna naam ka sath baloch lagana sa koi baloch nehen baan jataa, whatever u said is irrelevant hence you need to review A Baloch history , you cannot change the mindset of people with Ur immature approach , you make me laugh louder
      very nice piece of article , well done with your work Aima khosa appreciated !!

    • shaheen baloch u may only saw the plain areas which have majorty of saiarki people but they are baicaly baloch …………………………and it is also a small region with a population of 4 to5 lac out of thirty lac in these 4to 5 lacmahjor are also included remaining 25 lack are baloch……………………………. i think kindly you will travel to all partof d.g.k………………………..then u will understand……………………………………

  6. Baqi reh gai baat k DG Khan k Baloch k awaz kon uthaye ga to sun lejiay k is dharti k logon ko puppets ki koi zaroorat hai jo kabhi Nawaz k hathon aur kabhi Zardari k hathon nachtay rehtay hain. Kia log humen Balochistan me shamil karwa k phir se feudal lords ka ghulam banana chahtay hain…humain nahin chahiay ethnic pride!!! humen chahiay rozgar aur roti jo k humain Saraiki soobay ya Janubi Punjab se milay gi…nasli bunyad per Aima kehti hai k DG Khan ko Balochistan me hona chahiay to phir sun lain k taqreeban aadhay Sindh Rural ki abadi bhi to Baloch hai na zra un k liay b yahi mutalba karo…aap logon ko pata lag jaye ga….zra mazeed research kro to pata chalay ga k Sindh ka Baloch bhi to Saraki bolta hai….Samajhnay ki koshish kro soobay ka mutalba sirf aur sirf zuban aur saqafat ki bunyad per ho raha hai…na k nasli bunyad per. Khudara humen Takht-e-Lahore se azadi dilanay me madad kro agar aap researcher aur danishwar kar saktay ho to!!!! plz think……

    • Well said! And I fully agree with both your comments. But don't blame Ms. Khosa…her forefathers worked for British and the current generation seems to be bowing to the US/Israel nexus….Look up where she works: Spearhead Research and her bosses include traitor ex-military men and sold out bureaucrats and the vilest of yahoodi neocons, like Christina Fair and Stephen Cohen and Justin Polin….

  7. Why not have three new provinces: Multan, Bahawalpur, and Derajat? That is, if new provinces are unavoidable. Otherwise, I prefer the status quo, in the larger national interest , but with the revival of district governments.
    ASAF ALI SHAH

  11. An Excellent Article . Thank You Mam For Raising the Voice of Balochs of Dera Ghazi Khan. Rajanpur Dgkhan Balochistan Balochistan ….

  12. @shaheen baloch , apna naam ka sath baloch lagana sa koi baloch nehen baan jataa, whatever u said is irrelevant hence you need to review A Baloch history , you cannot change the mindset of people with Ur immature approach , you make me laugh louder
    very nice piece of article , well done with your work Aima khosa appreciated !!

  13. Excellent article written by Aima Khosa….Any how let me add that however loud well organized racist UPites may now justify themselves as 'new Sindhis', their consistent deeds in terms of stubborn denial of assimilation by owning the Sindhi language & culture and recently the introduction of a malicious private constitution amendment bill in the National Assembly for paving the way finally to divide Sindh & Balochistan, speak much louder than their rhetoric. The 5th columnist vultures among (Baloch, Pathan, Sindhi & Punjabi) nationalities in nexus with hyenas of Ganga Jamna mafia are going to prey sitting duck (Punjab) & rather vigilant KPK first and Sindh & Balochistan later on. The said maneuvering alerted ANP, C.M. of Balochistan & Sindhi brothers as well to counter it at a juncture, when it has been already hyped enough through well planned media propaganda.

    Would that the repercussions of the said plot could have been anticipated far earlier while supporting it in an understandable but blind resentment against ignorant Punjab, where a vast majority of Punjabis (intoxicated with UPite version of Islam & Pakistan having Urdu a holy status contrary to ‘devilish uncivilized’ Punjabi) is criminally unconcerned yet, towards developing RAWANDA syndrome in Punjab and BALKANISATION of Pakistan. No one is there to challenge the dual approach of PPP politicians for Sindh & Punjab OR to question the odd stance of PML(N), PML(Q), PTI etc. supporting ‘administrative’ division in an already administratively (in Divisions, Districts, Thesils, local govts./union councils) divided Punjab. Matter of the fact is that the self-centered politicians of Punjab (particularly incumbent ones, who on the one hand deliver speeches in German or Arabic; but on the other their myopia doesn’t let them deliver speeches even in public rallies in Punjabi/Saraiki/Potohari at Punjab) in any parties have been looking forward to have more consolidated ruling opportunities for their dud kids in the divide units of Punjab and centre/Islamabad as well without giving a second thought for the benevolence of the downtrodden masses of Punjab & other provinces.

    Keeping in view the sheer ignorance of common masses of Punjab, dishonesty of intelligentsia and lusty attitude of selfish & corrupt politicians from all above described 4 (Baloch, Pathan, Sindhi & Punjabi) ancient nationalities of this federation, who have been playing in the hands of racist UPite infiltrators & desperately intend to divide all entities of this fragile federation one by one merely for own vested interests in terms of their extension, occupation & de facto rule; it is imperative upon all humans & peace loving forces to endeavor jointly in order to keep the classical pluralistic societies of every historical unit/province (recognized in 1940s Lahore resolution) intact in a win-win manner.

    However, if any ethnicity within any existing province literally is not happy with the status quo, assumes itself closer to the language & culture of the other province and feels comfortable to be with them, could, nay, should be allowed to join other province with the readjustment of the provincial boundaries through a mutual consensus purely in a democratic way of referendum having no third/3rd option at all. For instance, Saraikis/southern Punjabis (who don’t consider it one of the dialects of Punjabi) could be asked to join Sindh (as in Sindh, Saraiki is supposed to be one of the dialects of Sindhi). If a major chunk of Saraikis from southern Punjab & D.I. Khan joins Sindh, it would not only sustain the balance of power in center/Islamabad (with the equal numbers of seats in senate for each province), but also would help sons of the soil/Sindhis to undo the demographic, economical & political hegemony of racist aliens. Similarly, concerns of the other numerous ethnic groups in all provinces (Hazarwals, Bannu for Punjab; Pashtoon belt of Balochistan for Pathans of KPK; D.I.Khan, Tank, some of the southern regions of Multan for Sindh and Jacobabad, D.G. Khan & Rajanpur for Balochistan) could be addressed under the historical, geographical, linguistic, cultural & ethnic facts. Otherwise, grudgingly abetting to carve any new SATANIC PROVINCE/STATE/ENTITY in any one of the existence ancient National Entities/Provinces would spark the fire off, which would engulf all.

  14. .
    "… who will speak for the Baloch of DG Khan?"
    You did …
    You did it in a very comprehensive and elegant manner …
    .
    God bless your heart …
    .

  18. I am a balochi speaker and donot want to be a part of saraiki soba.I want my dera ghazi khan to br merge in balochistan

  19. Baloch is baloch was baloch will be baloch.Saraiki bolney waley ko kon keh raha hai k balochistan ka hisa bney jo balochi boltey hain.wahi balochistan me jana chatey hain aur 95% log balochi speaker hain

  20. Nice Article…The writer 's effort is highly appreciated especially for explaining the position of D G khan if it is included in Baluchistan. Because some of our seriaki speaking Baloch friends are conscious regarding the present turmoil in Baluchistan. Great…. D.G.Khan is part of Blouchistan…darya-e sind ta makran Blouchistan Blouchistan….

  21. Great….An Excellent Article…… D.G.Khan is part of Blouchistan…darya-e sindh ta makran Blouchistan Blouchistan….

  24. O , OUR SISTER AIMA KOSA WE ARE PROUD OF YOU , WE REQUEST YOU NOT ONLY DEPEND ON WRITING BUT COME OUT OF HOME AND JOIN BALOCH NATIONAL STRUGGLE BY JOINING A BALOCH NATIONALIST PARTY , LIKE NATIONAL PARTY, OR BALOCHISTAN NATIONAL PARTY (MENGAL)

  26. OUR SISTER AIMA KOSA WE ARE PROUD OF YOU , WE REQUEST YOU NOT ONLY DEPEND ON WRITING BUT COME OUT OF HOME AND JOIN BALOCHISTAN NATIONAL PARTY (MENGAL) A. LATIF BUZDAR

  27. The present size and population imbalance of our provinces is not goring to solve our problems. With rate of population increase,the admin. Units have been reducing to smaller units I.e.provinces/states world over Pakistan has to follow the pursuit. Nigeria half the the size of pakistan has 50 states because it wreck with religious and language bias. Except a few ,I respect you comment/emmotions but in practice they are not goeing to work.we need have 8- io provinces to be adminitratively / socially / culturally cohisive. I you all good the writer.

  28. jao pahly apny blochon ki history ly aao …… phir likho un pr artical …….they are not in majority ….they are only in tribal area …..u dirty blochs get out from my GADDAI .. ap ny sahi jana yeh gadai ka area hy jo kh saraikiun ka hy aur rhy ga …………..GET OUT FROM MY GADDAI ……….

  29. No doubt, Geographically, socially, culturally we are the integral part of Balochistan,
    I think D.G.Khan is the economic zone of punjan and estabishment and do never allow us to become the part of Balochistan.For achieving the goal undafeatable efforts are required, Thanks Aiama

  30. Pehlay Ap Apnay Khosa Sardar’s K Garaybaan Pakrain, Munafiq, Takht Lahore K polshi, yahe Dgkhan Rajanpur Balochistan K Mukhalif hain,

  31. I strongly agree with Shaheen Baloch..He told the facts about DG Khan and the people and their language..as a neutral,,u all should think about it..

  32. the plain areas of dgk which have majorty of saiarki people but they are baicaly baloch …………………………and it is also a small region with a population of 4 to5 lac out of thirty lac…………. in these 4to 5 lacmahjor are also included remaining 25 lack are baloch……………………………. i think those who are missunderstand kindly will travel to all partof d.g.k………………………..then u will understand……………………………………

  33. good work khosa keep it up ………………………………………`plz participate at baloch culture day which will be held in dgk 2 march 2016……………………………..

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