March, 14 2005	Monday	03 Safar 1426

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LAHORE, March 13: Former president Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari says that those involved in acts of sabotage in Balochistan should be dealt with firmly.

Talking to Dawn here on Sunday, he however proposed amnesty for others willing to surrender.

“Balochistan is the most backward province of Pakistan. Its social indicators are the worst and the 6.5 million people of the province mostly live in abject poverty. Over the years their situation vis- a-vis people of other provinces has worsened. The people have legitimate grievances which were not redressed for more than half a century. The youth of Balochistan, be it Baloch, Brahvi, or Pushtoon, demand a legitimate share in the decision making. The Baloch people also demand that they be provided with basic human rights, including ‘roti, kapra aur makan’, and a just share in governance and development.

“The issue of the Baloch people extends beyond Balochistan as well. It must be remembered that there are more than three times more Baloch living in Punjab and Sindh than in Balochistan. And in most of these areas the Baloch are at the bottom of the economic ladder.

“Balochistan has been bedevilled by bad governance even more than the rest of Pakistan. Bad governance, corruption, usurpation of people’s rights through a deteriorating sardari system has compounded the problem. Almost all provincial governments that have served in Balochistan, including Nationalists, Muslim League, JUI, MMA or coalition governments have failed to reach out to the masses in Balochistan and corruption in government has reigned supreme. Issues ranging from gas royalties to development in agriculture, livestock, trade and business, development of basic infrastructure have all been dealt with in perfunctory and incompetent manner. Baloch youth have not been provided with basic educational, vocational or technological training so that they may adequately fulfil their potential and also obtain employment. The youth of Balochsitan are, therefore, wary of the future.

“As a result of admixture of the these factors and because of the suppression of the Baloch people’s earlier uprisings through military means, some feelings of oppression and raw deals having been meted out to Balochistan have existed amongst the Baloch over the years. Unfortunately, some elements have tried to take advantage of the general environment to sharpen cleavages now.

“This is unfortunate because the long simmering demands of the people of Balochsitan for mega projects such as Gwadar port, coastal highway, Mirani Dam, Hingol Dam, Saindak project, development of mineral resources, electrification of villages, provision of telecommunication facilities have not only been sanctioned by President Musharraf’s own intervention but they are being pushed forward at a fairly fast pace. It is ironic that even the development of Gwadar port is being opposed by those very elements that were crying hoarse earlier on the pretext that the port and ancillary facilities would make the Baloch people a minority in their own areas.

“The government should have responded to this propaganda more than one and a half years ago when I pointed out in a public meeting at Gwadar and subsequently to the then prime minister that the government must immediately declare and initiate a programme to employ all the youth of Gwadar and Makran who had educational qualifications of matriculation and above initially as apprentices to be trained for all the different trades required for the building and operation of a modern port facility and ancillary industries over the next one year and to be employed subsequently.

“The total number of such youth would not be more than 5,000, requiring an expenditure of less than Rs300 million. Not only would we have had a large corps of educated trained young people from Makran to man the future port but the fears and propaganda of the so-called nationalist forces would also have been adequately met and the people of Balochistan would have seen how effectively the governments of Pakistan and Balochistan were dealing with a difficult situation. Moreover, the youth of Balochistan would have for the first time felt the impact of how justice and equity could prevail in the future.

“I strongly feel that besides the mega projects the governments of Pakistan and Balochistan must reach out to the youth of Balochistan directly, and not involve themselves in controversies with what the sardars want or do not want. Also, it is important to alter the formulae regarding gas royalties so that Balochistan gets its rightful legitimate share through the NFC award. Of course, the issue of greater provincial autonomy by reviewing the Concurrent List needs also to be given priority and this would ultimately help all the provinces, including Balochistan. It is also important that any elementy involved in sabotage of public facilities or acts of terrorism be dealt with firmly. Amnesty could be given to all who are willing to surrender”.

Himself a Baloch, Mr Leghari said:”The Baloch people must be dealt with in an honourable and self-respecting way because the Baloch will honour those who honour them.”

Asked about his views on the government’s contacts with his sworn enemies — the exiled leaders of the PML-N and the PPP —, Mr Leghari said:”Most political observers in Pakistan are aware of government’s contacts with some opposition leaders outside Pakistan ever since Gen Musharraf took over the reins of power in October 1999.