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| — Photo from the event's Facebook page |
“Learn about the history, complications, human rights abuses, and the struggle for justice that has been going on in Balochistan.”
That is how the Lahore University of Management Sciences described their event Unsilencing Balochistan, scheduled for Thursday.
The highly anticipated talk was supposed to have a panel including Mama Qadeer (Chairman, Voice for Missing Baloch Persons), Farzana Majeed (General Secretary, Voice for Missing Baloch Persons), columnist and activist M.M Ali Talpur, academic Professor Aasim Sajjad Akhtar, Director HRCP I. A. Rehman and activist Sajjad Changhezi.
The session was to be moderated by Chief Editor of Daily Times, Rashid Rahman.
This never happened.
Students, staff and faculty at LUMS were abruptly emailed by Ali Khan, Chair of the Humanities and Social Sciences Department:
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While the "who?" and "why?" are clear to the wise, it is still difficult to imagine a private academic institution being silenced with such ease. This was blatant interference in LUMS' decisions and activities, a condemnable silencing of another attempt to 'unsilence' voices from Balochistan.
That a discussion in a private (often touted as 'elite') university in an urban provincial capital poses a threat; that a few moments in the local spotlight can shake up the corridors of power, says much about the state of affairs in this country.
The forced cancellation is but a small reflection of the all-pervasive hold that has gripped Balochistan for decades and littered its streets and roads with mutilated bodies.
Know more: A plague of suicide in Balochistan
This hushing culture is one of coercion and injustice, of total subjugation.
If there is one characteristic that defines our nation's history, it is the monopolisation of discourse and the manipulation of narrative by the all-mighty and powerful. That history is not yet history, we have just been reminded.
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| Mama Qadeer, who marched from Quetta to Islamabad on foot in protest of the 'disappearance' of his son in Balochistan. - AFP/File |
In the case of the Baloch and Balochistan, the monopolisation is so complete, and its absorption so widespread, that challenging or contradicting it has now become a ‘threat’ and abhorrent to ‘the state’. It is a narrative of the sardars, the BLA and the naïve Baloch – manipulated by all to resent and dissent against the utopia that is Pakistan which has been ceaselessly kind and generous to the people of the province.
Also read: Stopped from going to US, Mama Qadeer thinks of going to SC
Umair Javed, a Political Science instructor at LUMS, was quick to point out that none of the speakers who were to speak at the event were linked to either of the actors upon which the dominant narrative regarding Balochistan is centred.
On social media, people were prompt in stating that talks and discussions at LUMS don’t and cannot bring change; they are insignificant. Fair enough. Then what was so alarming about this 'insignificant' discussion that called for its cancellation?
So alarming that it was necessary to engage the might of trolls in trending this hashtag #ShameOnLUMS?
Shame on the silencer and their narrative, which conflates certain institutions with the country itself, and declares any dissent or disagreement as an 'anti-Pakistan' endeavour, an attempt at 'maligning' the state's institutions.
Explore: Shrine to the Disappeared
This fight of narratives is nothing trivial but a crucial battle in the struggle for a genuine democracy in Pakistan.
The timeless words of the great Eqbal Ahmad come to mind. While speaking on army action in East Pakistan in 1971, he wrote:
“I do not know if my position would at all contribute to a humane settlement. Given the fact that our government is neither accountable to the public nor sensitive to the opinion of mankind, our protest may have no effect until this regime has exhausted all its assets and taken the country down the road to moral, political, and economic bankruptcy.
“However, lack of success does not justify the crime of silence in the face of criminal, arbitrary power.”
Balochistan is bleeding. Silence in its bruised and bloodied face is very much an accomplice. The discourse must be reclaimed.
And if voices are a threat, then speak, nay, scream we shall.
Related:
The author holds an MA in South Asian Studies from Columbia University, and currently teaches history and political science at the Lahore University of Management Sciences., She writes about socio-political affairs on her blog hafsakhawaja.wordpress.com.
She tweets @Hafsa_Khawaja
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (72) Closed
Apr 09, 2015 06:46pm
This is great news. When there is a flood in your house that you need to worry about, you should not focus on fixing the fridge. Rational minds prevailed in canceling this talk.
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Apr 09, 2015 07:11pm
So sad. I never knew things are so bad in Baluchistan.
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Apr 09, 2015 07:25pm
As rightly said "Balochistan is bleeding". But who cares?????
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Apr 09, 2015 07:27pm
Pakistan state must learn from its past mistakes and correct historical wrongs. Persecution of an ethnic or religious group will not strengthen the state. But it seems that the state has not learnt anything from the fall of Dhaka. And spineless government has once again bowed to higher powers.
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Apr 09, 2015 07:31pm
If LUMS wants to be the top-ranked university (which it should), it has to take a stand on issues that concern its policies. This is the second instant, first with Dr. P Hoodbhoy and this one, that LUMS succumbed to external pressure. There is nothing wrong with discussing social and religious issues in the country, in fact thats how one improves things by first discussing them..very disappointed with this to say the least...
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Apr 09, 2015 07:38pm
It appears Pakistan's ruling establishment(civil and military) never learns from history.
its arrogance and reliance on military solution to the political issues resulted in cessation of province of East Bengal from federation.
The establishment has forgotten by that by demonizing, implacating Mujeeb ur Rehman in Agartala conspiracy case and incarcerating him did not stop to the struggle of masses of Bengali for their national rights.
Yes, go ahead kill and make Baloch disappear and do not let their leader MAMA QADEER speak fpr their missing people. That will not the stop the struggle of people of Balochistan for the national rights.
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Apr 09, 2015 07:46pm
Would someone please explain why was mama invited to LUMS??
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Apr 09, 2015 07:53pm
@Mustafa ...because the event was on "Unsilencing Baluchistan" and Mama is the Chairman of Voice for Missing Baloch Persons...
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Apr 09, 2015 08:01pm
A discourse can only be reclaimed if it was discontinued!.
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Apr 09, 2015 08:26pm
An extremely touching article. Poignant references over the states monopoly on what we can and what we cant hear. What we are shown and cant be shown. Censorship and manipulation have always been the greatest tools for an establishment to maintain its hegemony and it puts great doubts in the mind of a patriotic pakistani like myself about what our intelligence is actually up to in balochistan. We must not forget that the baloch insurency is largely funded by Indian and ISI is trying to counter that, yes. But it was the injustice and lack of equality on the part of our estalishment in the first place that allowed balochistan to be exploited by India. We must tell people the truth. I want to knw whats happening in balochistan. sto hiding the truth
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Apr 09, 2015 08:27pm
@Mustafa
because apparently its OK to invite someone who has been rumored to have connections to indian intelligency agencies and spread false lies against the state. and when the state responds, its not the poor 'mama qadeer' who is at fault, its the state. things in balochistan are not like what this author has described. the whole province is not up in arms fighting for independence. its a few bad apples, and they have to be isolated, not given standing ovations at private universities. how this is lost on our elite baffles me.
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Apr 09, 2015 08:30pm
@Mustafa "Would someone please explain why was mama invited to LUMS??"
To talk about "disappearing" people in Baluchistan. You didn't know that?
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Apr 09, 2015 08:34pm
very proper for a business school to kowtow to government, especially a government of businessmen, by the businessmen, for the businessmen.
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Apr 09, 2015 08:36pm
@Mustafa Mama Qadeer was invited to discuss “Learn about the history, complications, human rights abuses, and the struggle for justice that has been going on in Balochistan.”
This was the first paragraph of the article.
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Apr 09, 2015 08:39pm
@ Mustafa: Because he has a story to tell about the injustice done by the failed state
pakistan to the baluch people and their land.
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Apr 09, 2015 08:39pm
Why doesn't anyone ask the question, what/why were the circumstances of the disappearances. Which group or groups did these people belong to? You cannot be involved in anti state activities funded by foreign dollars and hope to get a free pass on it. There will be consequences. You made a choice, now deal with it, and you so called liberals, get you heads screwed on straight before criticizing the powers that be. There is no compromise on Pakistan!
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Apr 09, 2015 09:13pm
unfortunate.How a can nation progress.
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Apr 09, 2015 09:25pm
Wow! Pakistan wants to debate Indian Kashmir at every forum and at every opportunity, even though it already has 70% more land compared to India and also has one Kashmir with it. Yet, when it comes to its own people in Baluchistan and human rights there, their own leading think-tank LUMS can't even discuss it.
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Apr 09, 2015 09:38pm
LUMS had a malafide intention in giving credence to a unilateral discourse. Why is not an open debate possible on this subject to hear the other narrative as well ??????
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Apr 09, 2015 09:39pm
What a shame! People must stand up to these kinds of efforts by the deep state to muzzle the voices of humanity. It has been a uphill struggle for voices of sanity and human rights to be heard in Pakistan. However, society is getting better and more democratic in comparison to eighties. I am confident that our society will keep on trying to root out the injustices that are being faced in Baluchistan. As Martin Luther King said that arc of moral universe is long but it bends towards justice. In his words "In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
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Apr 09, 2015 09:41pm
@Mustafa Mama Qadeer, who marched from Quetta to Islamabad on foot in protest of the 'disappearance' of his son in Balochistan.
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Apr 09, 2015 09:58pm
Not long ago they the same with Asad Umar...
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Apr 09, 2015 10:01pm
It is too late to undo the damage done and the heartache caused to Baloch people. Establishment never learnt from tragedy of east Pakistan.
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Apr 09, 2015 10:20pm
@Mustafa May be he wants us to see his grief, may be he wants us to see the tortured soul of Baluch people. May be he wanted to tell us how to bury mutilated bodies of ones loved ones, may be he wanted to show us a glimpse of future when I and You, Mustafa you, are found in body bags. May be he thought that he would be speaking to the Lions of Punjab, the policy makers, movers and shakers of tomorrow. May be he just wanted a shoulder to cry, may be----------------
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Apr 09, 2015 10:32pm
Calm down; no need to be so hysterical.
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Apr 09, 2015 10:49pm
Role of iran is even worse in this case of treating Balochis.. Our establishment is fearfull of Iranian backlash as well..This aspect wont be mentioned much
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Apr 09, 2015 10:57pm
It interesting that LUMS would like to talk about Balochistan and the missing people. Perhaps the wonderful political analysts at LUMS should discuss the big role of Foreign countries in making this wounderful State a region of Proxy War.
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Apr 09, 2015 11:10pm
The inability of the Pakistan establishment to learn from past mistakes is truly lamentable and worrying. I regard Balochis (like Sindhis, Pakhtuns, Punjabis, Kashmiris and others) to be my brothers and part of me. So if they suffer, why should I not be concerned for them.
A true patriot would want justice for all Pakistanis. Clearly our 'deep state' is more concerned about preserving its dominance rather than developing all Pakistanis to their full potential.
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Apr 09, 2015 11:11pm
@Mustafa Why not - Universities are about broadening the mind and that includes listening to all opinions
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Apr 09, 2015 11:28pm
@hamza khan You said it yourself "rumored". If rumors can be taken as truth, what stops some one from spreading the rumor that your PM is an Indian agent?
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Apr 09, 2015 11:39pm
As a Luminite, I feel ashamed. LUMS should not have cancelled the talk, despite Govt pressure. Thesis and anti-thesis combine to form synthesis. One sided discourse is not beneficial for the country.
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Apr 09, 2015 11:45pm
we all know what is the problem in Baluchistan, it is not the establishment who involved. it is the local sardar who take million of royalty from the government don't do any thing for their people. Also, we all know foreign involvement in Baluchistan crisis.
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Apr 09, 2015 11:57pm
No one is telling the real truth here. No one is telling about the foreign funding and foreign training being given to some you think. Balouchistan. no one is talking about the billionaire lords of Bayou his tan who maintain armies for $100 per person per month. There is a lot happening under the surface.
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Apr 09, 2015 11:58pm
Have been hearing about Balochistan since ages but no solution so far. A real tragedy.
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Apr 10, 2015 12:06am
My question to the writer is that she must have reflected on the panelists as well. It wasn't a 'balanced' panel to discuss the issue. Secondly, the complete history of Mama Qadeer's past must have been described and taken into consideration vis-a-vis the situation in Baluchistan and Pak security agencies' handling of it. Thirdly, cancellation of a talk is important only when it has some meaning. Luminites must first understand the necessity to do this from the PoV of Pak security forces than blindly follow the cause of freedom of expression which is censored / controlled even in the west! We are Pakistanis before the champions of the myth of the 'freedom of the expression'!
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Apr 10, 2015 12:44am
I can, though struggle, to agree with atrocities against innocent Balochi's. But did anyone bother to research why so many non-Balochi's migrated from there after living in Baluchistan for generations?
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Apr 10, 2015 01:22am
@11;
"Mama Qadeer, who marched from Quetta to Islamabad on foot in protest of the 'disappearance' of his son in Balochistan."
Mama Qadeer's son is very likely is still in Balochistan, either Afghan side or Pakistan side of the border. There is a more than 50% chance that mama knows where his son is.
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Apr 10, 2015 01:24am
@hamza khan Dude, what is wrong with open discussion. This is what institutions of higher learning should about, this is open debate and free exchange of ideas. When the State wants to suppress free speech, there is something wrong with the state, not with those who are trying to practice it.
Loos like people like you aspire to lie in dictatorship.
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Apr 10, 2015 01:25am
@Rashid;
"and Mama is the Chairman of Voice for Missing Baloch Persons..."
And who made Mama the voice of Missing Baloch Persone?? Please don't name an NGO, especially HRCP.
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Apr 10, 2015 01:30am
I really appropriate your work, and I am happy that still there are people in our conservative society who likes the truth. do you even know 50% balochistan population is belongs to pashtuns, who are facing same kind of problem, missing persons, kill and demp bodies, suppressing the voices who fought for the rights of pashtuns, but unfortunately the balochs who wants there rights from federal government are not ready to accept pashtuns equality in this shared province. they have to accept this fact than demand for the rights
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Apr 10, 2015 02:07am
@Mustafa . You might as well ask what is the need of such a debate now or ever!
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Apr 10, 2015 02:38am
Maam you have written a wonderful article!
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Apr 10, 2015 05:53am
On Balochistan issue everyone kept there eyes and mouth closed but wide open on Kashmir, Good job writer.
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Apr 10, 2015 06:19am
Regardless of what the situation is and regardless of what opinion certain groups or individuals have, the control of the government on freedom of expression or on debate is shameless, condemnable and not in the interest of the nation. It is the arrogance and absolute claim on "loyalty" to the country on part of the government which is detrimental to building a strong and peaceful Pakistan. The People must be allowed to express and debate diverse political views freely and without any threat unless and until it is hate speech. The irony is that our government is soft on hate speech which has weakened the country and our courts grant bails and freedom to masterminds of terror, but the government comes down hard on those with diverse and "out of box" political views. The government does not understand that human mind and spirit does not live in a box designed and built by any government institution and that it is all of the citizens which make up the nation
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Apr 10, 2015 06:50am
go to Baluchistan and spend time on ground. you will better know the reality rather sitting in air conditioned rooms and listening to people with misplaced perceptions.
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Apr 10, 2015 07:12am
@aslam shaikh No one is telling the real truth here. No one is telling about the foreign funding and foreign training being given to the youth of Balouchistan. no one is talking about the billionaire lords of Balouchistan who maintain armies for $100 per person per month. There is a lot happening under the surface.
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Apr 10, 2015 07:41am
Why does LUMS cancel such events? Is it death threats to faculty?
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Apr 10, 2015 08:20am
All these Pakistan haters never raise any voice against the Sardars or Sardari system that is actually suppressing the Baloch people not Pakistan....These Sardars have kept their people slaves and backward and oppose any development and they are also behind the BLA and the propoganda. Gawadar port and other major projects are deemed as threat to their way of life.
We are afraid to speak the truth but it is easy to blame Pakistan for everything.
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Apr 10, 2015 08:35am
@hamza khan you are soon wrong, I am from balochistan, I know better how the situations are, I guess writer is described very less, the situation are even worse.
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Apr 10, 2015 08:52am
Perhaps by design but Mr. Ali Khan's letter is incoherent. When he says that the "government" ordered cancellation of the discussion, which tier of government and which ministry is he referring to?
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Apr 10, 2015 08:52am
Don't open the closet, every body knows what is in there. To Mama Qadeer, in punjab every one is related to our greatest institution of all time in one way or the other. So come back home.
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Apr 10, 2015 09:08am
@Sandip your rumor is true.
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Apr 10, 2015 10:40am
So, not even a talk on Pakistani occupation of Balochistan?!
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Apr 10, 2015 11:08am
Pakistan army like anyother institution should be made answerable to Public.
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Apr 10, 2015 12:34pm
@imranrahbar been there a very boring place
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Apr 10, 2015 12:54pm
Action speaks louder than words. These fancy talks have been on going for decades . What exactly LUMS was going to contribute ? They had no plan of actions to over come the crisis in Baluchistan . It was more of a show off .
It was going to more effective , if they announce to build a university or college in Baluchistan .
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Apr 10, 2015 12:58pm
It is absolutely wrong to compare Balochistan with Bangladesh. Bangladesh was a physically detached piece of land surrounded by an enemy state which used force and deceit and took full advantage of their shared borders with East Pakistan. Balochistan is a totally connected and integrated province of Pakistan where majority of the people and tribes are pro-Pakistan. Few sardars of specific tribes are trying to destabilize the situation by taking help from India, UAE and previously with Karzai backed Afghan intelligence agencies. With new Afghan government and a very sensible new Afghan President Mr Ghani, these militants will now have a much more tough time.
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Apr 10, 2015 12:58pm
Additionally with new terror laws and an even stronger resolve of Pak Armed forces, things will start to improve rapidly. LUMS should show some sense and act more responsibly when exposing young minds to guest speakers. I believe that inviting an anti-state militant group sympathizer is a criminal offense that has been fortunately detected and averted!
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Apr 10, 2015 01:03pm
Thank God that there are people watching out for activities that could undermine Pakistan. LUMS is an educational institution and should not allow itself to become a platform for activists of any kind.
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Apr 10, 2015 01:04pm
There are very responsible and patriotic people in the LUMS hierarchy. They must make sure that ethnic, sectarian and debates on sensitive issues do not pollute the learning environment.
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Apr 10, 2015 01:37pm
@Rashid I wonder if someone also ever think of inviting the aggrieved non-baloch settler families who not only were forced to quit that land but also suffered the lives of their beloved ones through the hand of these proclaimed nationalists. I am astonished why every time this story is being stated/reported one sided?
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Apr 10, 2015 01:41pm
@Ragu A good advice for you to grasp first the background history/knowledge of each matter you wanna to put your nose in. There is no comparison between Balochistan and Kashmir and this you know very well.
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Apr 10, 2015 01:44pm
@Ijaz right but I am unable to see the 2nd side of the mirror. is not this?
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Apr 10, 2015 03:46pm
@Mustafa As he had a story to tell about injustices.
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Apr 10, 2015 03:53pm
suppressing discourse is counter productive, our insecure govt and "agencies" have tried to crush dissent throughout history and failed miserably, maybe they should for once allow debate and open discussion and try to find inclusive solutions from the voice of the people
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Apr 10, 2015 04:46pm
LUMS should not have been silenced so easily. I wish LUMS had said no to the official directive and had gone ahead with the event.
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Apr 10, 2015 05:28pm
Very SAD!!!
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Apr 10, 2015 05:54pm
The government intervention highlighted the severity of Balochistan's issues.
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Apr 10, 2015 05:57pm
Karachi too open your eyes and give the right to Karachietes to rule their city
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Apr 10, 2015 08:41pm
@Harish Kiran G S Mr. This is not an occupation the majority wants to be with Pakistan. Few super rich lords want to earn a couple of more billions which is why they hire armies, get them trained by agent is of nearby countries and try to destabilize Pakistan. On the thought of occupation, let's talk about Kashmir and Punjab and Hyderabad dakkan.
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Apr 11, 2015 02:30pm
@Khan-Haqiqi people of Karachi are waking up now And realizing the Mafia which has been fooling everybody.
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Apr 14, 2015 03:13pm
So sad .... how many of these students will end up in government positions ... shouldnt they have the whole picture in case they have to fix things.
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