Executive Summary
An unusual respite in violence prevailed in Balochistan during this week, as there was not a single violent incident reported across the province. But, Balochistan saw number of political activities and social demonstrations during the week.
Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani stressed the need for political unity and harmony among all political parties to quell the prevalent environment of conspiracies.
Veteran Baloch sardar and former chief minister, Sardar Attaullah Mengal severely criticized the Aghaz-i-Haqooq-i-Balochistan package, and termed it as a mere joke with the Balochis.
Provincial Minister for Labor and Manpower Maulvi Ghulam Sarwar Musakhail slated Frontier Corps (FC) for its failure to check deteriorating law and order situation in Balochistan.
The enraged residents of Quetta over gas load shedding took out the streets against the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and blocked the road that connects Quetta with the rest of Pakistan. They demanded that the government should ensure adequate and smooth supply of gas during chilly winter season.
People belonging to the Hindu community in Balochistan held a protest against the government for its failure to protect the lives of those belonging to minorities.
Week in Review
a) Political Front
Chief Minister Raisani while welcoming the return of President Asif Ali Zardari to Pakistan on December 19 urged political forces to join their hands and maintain unity and harmony among their ranks in order to thwart conspiracies hatched against democracy. He warned: ‘All political parties should learn from mistakes they have committed in past and how democracy was derailed. It would create difficulties for Pakistan if democracy is again derailed.’ He also underlined that the issue of the memo has been settled following a statement issued by the former US national security advisor, General (Retd.) James Jones.[1]
Sardar Attaullah Mengal, who was in Karachi while talking to media before his meeting with PML (N) Chief Mian Nawaz Sharif, scorned the Aghaz-i-Haqooq-i-Balochistan package on December 20 and added that it was launched just to make fun of the Balochis. He said ‘Balochistan is near the point of no return’ and it is the military which at the helm of affairs in Balochistan today. Venting his anger over treatment meted out to the Balochis, he said that Balochis suffered since the very day they joined Pakistan back in 1947. When asked if the first step could be scaling back the role of the military and security agencies, Mengal posed a question: ‘Should I call this country a military colony or a colonial game?’[2]
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) member and Provincial Minister for Labor and Manpower Maulvi Ghulam Sarwar Musakhail on December 20 accused FC for fuelling differences between Musakhail and Marri tribesmen for political reasons. Talking on a point of order in the Balochistan Assembly, he noted that the FC had set up several check posts inside residential areas in Musakhail after a deadly attack that left 14 FC personnel dead on November 21. The construction of these check posts gives the impression that Marri tribe backs FC and thus enhances the chances of inter-tribal clashes. He added: ‘Establishment of check posts inside residential areas is creating problems for the women as well, as they can not move freely because of the heavy presence of FC personnel.’[3]
Recovery of bullet-riddled bodies of Baloch youth and a rapidly deteriorating law and order situation in the province reverberated in the Balochistan Assembly on December 20. At least three provincial ministers staged a walk out to protest over the Speaker remarks that the ministers should only take up pressing issues during cabinet meetings and not in assembly. Meanwhile, Awami National Party (ANP) member and Provincial Minister for Revenue Mir Zamruk Khan took the floor on a point of order and urged members of Balochistan Assembly to stand united for strengthening democracy in the face of threats to the democratic system. Members of the provincial assembly urged the government to resolve the issues of Balochistan.[4]
With gas shortages and load shedding hitting most parts of the country, the areas close to gas fields also faced low gas pressures. On December 21, the constant low pressure of gas forced hundreds of residents of Quetta city to come out and protest against the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) for frequent gas outages during chilly clod weather. Saryab Road residents blocked the road that connects Quetta with the rest of Pakistan. They raised slogans against SSGC for its failure to ensure the ample supply of natural gas for domestic consumers.[5]
Members of the Hindu community staged a protest demonstration in front of the Balochistan Assembly on December 23 against soaring incidents of kidnappings for ransom in the province. The protestors took out a procession from Arya Samaj temple on Masjid Road and after marching through different parts of the city, staged a protest demonstration in front of the assembly building. The members of the Hindu community raised slogans against the government for its failure to protect the lives of those belonging to minorities.[6]
Representatives of the Hazara community on Saturday, December 24 appealed to the federal government to make arrangements for bringing back the bodies of the victims of the Indonesian boat tragedy. They also appealed to the United Nations (UN) to help the asylum seekers against the background of deteriorating law and order situation in Balochistan and threat to the lives and property. Addressing a press conference, former provincial minister, Sardar Saadat Ali Hazara said a delegation was constituted which will leave for Indonesia to identify the victims belonging to the community.[7]
Earlier, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, taking notice of the Indonesian boat tragedy which claimed lives of over 37 Pakistanis from Quetta, asked the Indonesian ambassador on December 24 to help in bringing back the dead bodies of the deceased persons to Pakistan. Thirty-seven, out of a total of 55 Pakistanis, were killed after an overloaded boat sank off Indonesian coast en route to Australia last Saturday.[8]
[1] Raisani urges political parties to unite, preserve democracy–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/308902/raisani-urges-political-parties-to-unite-preserve-democracy/
[2] Ataullah Mengal interview: ¿Aghaz-e-Haqooq package a joke– ¿, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/309073/ataullah-mengal-interview-aghaz-e-haqooq-package-a-joke/
[3] JUI-F minister accuses FC of conspiring to spark tribal conflict–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/309422/jui-f-minister-accuses-fc-of-conspiring-to-spark-tribal-conflict/
[4] Balochistan Assembly: Abduction & murder of Baloch more important than democracy–, http://tribune.com.pk/story/309408/balochistan-assembly-abduction-murder-of-baloch-more-important-than-democracy/
[5] Quetta protest: As the mercury plummets, so does the gas supply–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/309883/quetta-protest-as-the-mercury-plummets-so-does-the-gas-supply/
[6] Quetta’s Hindus demand govt to protect them from kidnappers, killers–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/310988/quettas-hindus-demand-govt-to-protect-them-from-kidnappers-killers/
[7] Boat tragedy: Hazara community wants bodies back, asylum for survivors–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/311409/boat-tragedy-hazara-community-wants-bodies-back-survivors-shipped-to-australia/
[8] A week on, govt ¿takes notice– of boat tragedy–, at http://tribune.com.pk/story/311257/a-week-on-govt-takes-notice-of-boat-tragedy/