2 weeks Ago By Attiya Munawer
The two most sensitive provinces of Pakistan are currently in the grip of terrorism. This terrorism is not a recent phenomenon. Such a situation has persisted for more or less forty years.
Yet, its intensity sometimes decreases or increases. The situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan is slightly disparate from each other, but the targets in terrorist attacks have been law enforcers, common people, and political and religious leaders. Several operations have been carried out to stop the attacks.
Despite this, the terrorists have not been stopped, nor is there any escape from terrorism. Why do the rulers seem to be failing to find a permanent solution to it? There is a need to seriously consider its political and non-political aspects and promote dialogue, while addressing our shortcomings. Only in this case, terrorists can be eliminated along with terrorism and peace can be restored in the country.
There is no doubt that terrorism, in any form, causes the most damage to political struggle, but if unelected representatives are imposed as elected representatives in the name of the political process, then public support will not be gained, nor will any problem be solved. While political forces are responsible for the situation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, non-political decisions are also being made, which have deprived these provinces of the smooth, peaceful political process. The rulers of the province are fully responsible for the fact that the billions of rupees that have been coming in the name of packages or development funds in the last three to four decades have not been properly used nor has any planning been done.
Some of these funds were recovered from the residences of public office holders and some have gone missing. No one is looking into this or giving any explanation. So there will be public protests against such injustices and violence will increase.
However, public unrest and abuse of rights can be reduced only if the public opinion and rights of deprived provinces are included in development and economic projects of national interest. While a political resistance movement is ongoing in Balochistan, on the other hand, some people are playing into the hands of anti-national forces. In view of this serious and sensitive situation, the provincial government has decided to take strict action against all government and non-government officials involved in negative activities and has issued orders to all commissioners and district officers to identify such employees and bring them under the law.
Such actions have been taken before and are being repeated, but this will neither bring peace and order nor establish the writ of the state, unless the root of the problem is caught and remedied. This war against terrorism is a war of every institution and every individual of the state and this war has to be fought by everyone together. But if divisions are created, then instead of resolving matters, they will only get worse.
The country has faced such detrimental situations before and all should learn from the aftermath of harsh decisions and not repeat the same mistakes again. A political resistance movement has been continued in Balochistan since day one. Leaders and political parties have been demanding that the people of Balochistan be given sovereignty and control over their coastline and resources.
This is not a demand that should be ignored or not seriously considered. However, if someone tries to be above the law, they can be stopped with the cooperation of political parties. In this matter, the use of force, disciplinary measures and harsh actions should be avoided.
We must differentiate between the exasperated people of Balochistan and anti-state elements. The enraged public of Balochistan must be embraced instead of being pinned to a wall. Their sense of deprivation must be eradicated and the nation should collectively be led on the path of prosperity.
No formula other than this one will work. Political leaders will have to heal the wounds of the deprived sections of Balochistan, make them sit with them and bring forward the real leadership of Balochistan. Only in this way can the heinous intentions of their internal and external facilitators be thwarted.
The policymakers of the country should come towards democratic solutions instead of operations. There should be a dialogue with the angry Baloch nationalists and full attention should be paid to their basic demands. Until a nominal Baloch is made to feel that the state stands with him and is granting him his basic rights, his perception cannot be mobilized against separatists and terrorists.
The sooner this is acknowledged, the better for everyone. Attiya Munawer The writer is an activist and environmen-talist. She covers human rights and politico-environmental issues.
She tweets @AttiyaMunawer and can be reached at [email protected].
