Balochistan politicians behave in a non-democratic manner
Politicians, they never learn. Or the world wouldn’t have been the mess it is now. However, ever so rare that may be, there comes along a politician who puts things in a different perspective, thus enamouring public’s attention, at least for a while till the public comes to senses and realises they are all the same. The only thing that differentiates politicians from bad politicians is maturity, perhaps. A mature politician would think twice before taking an unpopular step. But this level of maturity somehow escapes most of Pakistan’s politicians.
The other day, Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Malik Baloch suspended the services of an SP following a clash between private guards of Senior Minister Sardar Sanaullah Zehri and policemen at the entrance of the Balochistan Assembly who were instructed by none other than Balochistan Assembly Speaker Jan Muhammad Jamali not to allow any private gunmen in the assembly premises. Instead of making amends or trying to get to the bottom of the issue, the CM rather bizarrely justified Mr Zehri’s bringing private guards inside the premises, apparently ignoring the rules. So much for the rule of law in Balochistan. The police personnel later staged a protest which was intervened by Dr Baloch and Jan Jamali. Agreed that Balochistan has myriad of problems, particularly ethnic and sectarian terrorism, this doesn’t justify politicians themselves can ignore the rule of law. The police officer was well within his bounds to do what he did – he was justified both legally and morally – while what the CM may be legally justified, he sure wasn’t morally right. One had hoped that things would change now that the new CM Balochistan belonged to no feudal class but if he looks after this class more than the rule of law, one might hope not much of seeing democracy flourish in this strife-riven province. A coalition government is certainly not the best form to carry out sweeping reforms but that’s the beauty of democracy: you have to take others along with you even if it means being a step behind the rest of the world. But in this particular case, it seems the coalition constraints are taking a heavy toll on good governance in the province. This does not bode well for the people of the province who had seen the last elections as a chance at the change they have so far been looking for.
If democracy is to flourish, unruly chieftains, nawabs, sardars, and the feudals in the province must be made to respect the law, not the other way around. No rule of law equals no democracy which means there is no way out for the poor wretched masses who deserve a lot more than what the politicians are offering them now: a circus of power struggle. One hopes that some, if not all, politicians show maturity and respect the rule of law.
