Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad in partnership with the Association for Integrated Development (AID) organized a workshop ‘The Role of Media and Civil Society in Balochistan’ at Quetta Press Club on July 07, 2012 to discuss the role of media and civil society in Balochistan. Participants were of the view that media and civil society cannot operate freely in the province due to security reasons and harassment by the militants and security agencies. Coverage and role of media is particularly being impeded by the state intelligence agencies, in order to keep the outside world in dark about the volatile situation on ground in the province, where violence and terror is normal state of affairs.

Addressing the workshop, Irfan Rana, a reporter working for the The Tribune Express and Express TV said I never experienced such enraged circumstances in Balochistan earlier which are unprecedented in the aftermath of Nawab Akbar Bugti murder in August 2006. He noted that the military operation is the prime factor behind the present chaotic situation. He observed that media is being targeted deliberately and our colleagues are picked and beaten up frequently, when we try to make video of FC activities in certain areas. Muhammad Akbarof Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) said the sense of deprivation of the Baloch people is at the top of all problems, because funds are delivered to the provincial government but are not spent properly rather misused by the ruling elite. ‘The worsening condition of roads in Quetta speaks itself about the state of decaying infrastructure in the province’ he illustrated. Arshad Jan of LIFE, Balochistan said civil society is at the receiving end of conflicts since the beginning. ‘Meanwhile, sardars are always promoted and protected by the state. So tribal sardars, sense of deprivation, intelligence agencies and the so called pro-Pakistan groups basically religious extremists, they all operate with impunity in the province’ he noted.

Moreover, Khalil Ahmed, a local correspondent of English Daily Dawn said the military establishment considers Baloch people as traitors and the mindset of the former is not changing. ‘On the other hand many sardars, criminals, and tribal chiefs also acting as tools of the establishment’ he observed. He noted that under this cover, influential people have indulged in all sorts of illegal activities while establishment try to manage peace through these pawns, the pawns pursue personal criminal agendas ´ act as dons of their respective regions. Overall, participants were apprehensive of the role of media in changing status quo in the province due to thick presence of security forces.