This report draws on over 80 radio nationally syndicated shows that the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) produced and aired in 2014-2015. These shows were titled “Balochistan Kay Awam ki Awaz.” (The Voice of Baloch People). The main objective of the publication is to:
a) Highlight the socio-political grievances of the ethnic Baloch in the restive Balochistan province,
b) Identify general governance gaps in the province, and,
c) Document and disseminate these gaps and grievances in black and white across Pakistan for broader understanding of the Baloch dynamics.
The primary data for this report was obtained from two distinct sources:
1. The discussions at radio programs by leading voices from Balochistan.
2. Exclusive field stories and news reports produced for the CRSS radio shows on the ground by reporters.
Political and civil society activists, experts from various fields of life such as health, media, politics and education participated in these programs. Since “Balochistan Kay Awam ki Awaz” was a youth-focused show, almost
every episode also included students and young socio-political activists. Most of these young leaders had been
part of a similar CRSS intervention ‘Balochistan Youth Forum’ (2012) which included capacity building training
workshops, dialogue and exposure trips to Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Karachi.
Balochistan Kay Awam ki Awaz endeavored to develop a democratic discourse on socio-political issues being
faced by the people of Balochistan. It was essentially designed as a counter-radicalization measure that could
help mainstream Baloch voices via airwaves across Pakistan. Under this initiative, over 80 radio programs
were aired in Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh on the following radio networks:
1. FM-101 Quetta (Balochistan),
2. FM-101 Peshawar (KPK),
3. FM-93 Multan (Punjab),
4. FM-93 Mithi (Sindh)
All these programs were re-broadcast on the corresponding day on radio networks of Turbat and Loralai (Balochistan), Radio Pakistan with the frequency of two programs a week. The programs were also live streamed
on the CRSS website www.crss.pk.
The objective of the wider transmission was to propagate and promote ideas and measures for de-radicalization, pluralistic values, universally acknowledged democratic values, raise awareness on fundamental human
rights and push for political accountability all over Pakistan. The idea behind the nationally syndicated radio
show was to generate demand for the rule of law, gender responsive society and equal citizenry.