During the tenure of former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, the situation in Balochistan deteriorated to such an extent that critics continued to say that the situation would never improve, but every subsequent government tried to some extent to improve the situation in the province. Can be prevented from deterioration.
However, it will not be wrong to say about the caretaker government of Anwar Haq Kakar that he did not imitate these democratic governments, but due to his strict tone, the relationship between Balochistan and the Federation was once again brought to the level where General Musharraf had left
Kakar Sahib’s opinion about Baloch nationalists is not hidden from anyone, nor are his pro-establishment views hidden from anyone. He became the Caretaker Prime Minister at a time when the movement for the recovery of missing persons in Balochistan took a new turn which was unprecedented in the past. When the relatives of the missing persons led by Dr. Mahrang Baloch decided to march towards Islamabad, it was not possible that they would not face or clash with the caretaker government.
The requirement of the situation was that the caretaker government should play its role in ending the tension between the two sides and make the people believe that even though the previous governments had adopted aggressive or controversial policies towards the province, the caretaker government would have done all these things. It will take the path of reconciliation by being indifferent to policies. But it didn’t happen.
The aggressive tone adopted by the caretaker prime minister towards the relatives of the Baloch missing persons and the way they behaved has shocked the entire country. Anwar Haq Kakar was the prime minister of the entire country at that time and not of a particular political party or school of thought.
His government rubbed salt in the wounds of all the protestors by calling those who peacefully demanded their legitimate rights and the recovery of their loved ones as terrorists or sympathizers of terrorists. He went on to express regret for his words and did not make any effort to prevent the situation from worsening.
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The least they could do is to meet the families of the missing persons and tell them that although the policy of disappearing people was not initiated by their government, they do not support such extrajudicial proceedings and the incoming government. They will request that immediately after coming to power, the issue of missing persons in Balochistan should be resolved on a priority basis. This issue has now become more important and demanding attention than all other issues for the people of the province.
The caretaker prime minister should have met the Baloch protestors because they were representing the new leadership of the Baloch who would play an important role in the politics of the province in the near future and their words were perceived by the public as traditional nationalists. will be taken more seriously than politicians.
Although this was the first time that this new Baloch leadership stood up to the rulers of Islamabad, it certainly would not be the last. There will be occasions in the future too that if any government in Islamabad wants to negotiate with the Baloch, the way of dialogue will be through this new leadership.
The question arises whether any new governments formed in the federal and provincial governments after the general elections of February 8 will be able to correct the mistakes of the caretaker government’s provocative statements and misrepresentation of Baloch public opinion against Islamabad. Unfortunately, the answer to this question is no.
This is because the country’s two largest parties, Pakistan Muslim League-N and Pakistan People’s Party, seem to be closer to the establishment than in the past. After the 2008 elections, the PPP made extraordinary efforts to free Balochistan from the destructive policies of General Musharraf, which included the Balochistan Rights Package starting with the Eighteenth Amendment.
PPP also released a few missing persons, but this time, if the People’s Party forms the government in Balochistan or sits in the opposition, the party will be very different at the provincial level.
Historically, PPP has been said to be anti-establishment and pro-people, but before the general elections, the party opened its doors in Balochistan to a few people who apparently did not want the provincial and federal government to join them. Better relations, successful negotiations with Baloch nationalists and recovery of missing persons.
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Among them is Sarfraz Bugti, who was not only the former provincial interior minister, but he was also the federal interior minister in Anwar Kakar’s caretaker government. Sarfaraz Bugti has no soft spot for Baloch nationalists and if his past statements and speeches are reviewed, he also belongs to the school of thought like Kakar Sahib, which is against the alleged violation of human rights by the security forces in Balochistan. Totally deny the violations.
Instead of making serious efforts to resolve this serious crisis that has been going on for decades, they are looking for a shortcut to blame the public resentment against Islamabad in Balochistan on foreign forces.
In the past, Bugti Sahib’s voice was not considered strong because of his closeness with parties (especially Balochistan Awami Party) which were said to be the products and supporters of the establishment, but this time. If his narrative gets the platform of a major political party like the People’s Party, it will surely kill the hopes that the political parties of the country see the problem of Balochistan from a different angle than the establishment.
If the political and military leadership of the country starts to think the same way about the issue of Balochistan, perhaps no political solution to the problem of Balochistan will be possible in the coming period of government, but the issue which was mishandled by Prime Minister Kakar Sahib will worsen further. Will be seen.
Note: This article is based on the opinion of the author, which does not necessarily agree with the institution.