Understanding Baloch aspirations

KARACHI: Once again the province of Balochistan is in turmoil, dominating the national political scene- with the trigger apparently provided this time by the rape incident in the Sui area where national gas installations are located.

But whatever the provocation, the country is now faced with a major political and economic crisis. The rulers had perhaps misread the situation, either due to their old perceptions that the voice of dissent can be suppressed by force or under the false notion that the crisis they faced would be limited in nature and could be handled by the exercise of state power.

It is good to see that there is consensus among political elements in the country on the point that the crisis should be solved politically without resorting to force.

This raises the question of what exactly the Balochistan issue or rather the Baloch problem is. The problem is multi-dimensional in character and successive rulers have failed to understand it.

In the past the Baloch were told that they could get rid of unemployment, crime, backwardness and drug abuse by abolishing the Sardari system and accelerating the path of development in the province by electing honest and intelligent people.

Somehow, fundamental rights determining the status and role of the Baloch in the federation did not figure in this scheme of things. Ever since the creation of Pakistan, our rulers have failed to understand the cultural sensitivities of the Baloch- a people who love their land and believe in the language of love and would rise if any attempt was made to hurt their national identity.

History shows that you cannot conquer the land of the Baloch- what they call the land of Chakar and Gowaram, the legendary Baloch warriors. The Baloch have a strong bond with their land and with the sea and if they feel that they are being deprived of their resources and natural wealth, they can be expected to put up a fierce resistance.

The crisis of Balochistan is not merely administrative; it is political, economic as well as developmental- all inter linked. It is a question of the fundamental rights of a people in a federation that is multi-national in character.

We must recognize the right of the people to manage their own political and economic affairs and exercise their free will in federal affairs. Indeed, what has come most to the fore is the issue of creating a democratic system at the federal level.

We are a federal state, comprising various divergent ethnic and cultural groups who also have divergent political and economic interests. A democratic federal order, limiting the powers of the federal bureaucracy (both army and civilian), alone can safeguard the rights of the people.

Today we are facing a strong bureaucracy- the stronger it is the greater the concentration of power in a few hands. It counters the efforts to transfer decision-making from the federal level to the provinces, localities and ultimately to the individual.

It rejects the notion that decisions should be made at the level closest to the grassroots. For the bureaucrats, the ordinary people in Dera Bugti and Lyari do not matter.

We can resolve our problems by mutual consent without adopting coercive methods: our past experience shows that oppression kills the spirit that binds people together, destroying the social fabric. It can only generate hatred and prejudice. To preserve unity, we must prevent autocracy and the resulting injustice.

It is also pertinent to note that there are people who argue that the requirements of economic development should be given preference over other notions and, for this purpose, they do not even rule out the possibility of using force. This will be dangerous and such thinking must be discouraged.

It is wrong that the poor Baloch are interested only in economic development and do not bother about fundamental issues pertaining to their land. Today, there is a general political awareness among the Baloch people as has been evident in the Sui crisis.

They want to ensure the security of their land and natural resources. Equally, they want to have security of life, property, a job of their choice and the right to freedom of movement in the country.

It is time that our rulers listened to the voices of sanity and did away with their traditional policies of subjugation by recognizing the fact that in the changed geo-political scenario, Balochistan is basic to the security of the country.

Baba Najmi's poetry collection launched

KARACHI: Baba Najmi's third collection of verses (in Punjabi) Mera Nam Insaan (my name is a human being) was launched at the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday.

The speakers who admirably described the merits of Baba's poetry and his person included Sajjad Mir, editor of an Urdu daily, Nadir Shah Aadil, a senior journalist, Abdul Hameed Chhapra, a journalist and activist of long standing, and Mujahid Barelvi, an electronic media person.

Senator Aitezaz Ahsan, a prominent politician who had great admiration for the late Habib Jalib and through him for Baba Najmi, presided over the proceedings. While Baba Najmi presented his many verses, including one he had composed in memory of tsunami victims, journalists Fazil Jameeli and Najem Ata paid rich complements to the poet of the evening in their verses.

Baba Najmi in his brief discourse announced to donate 50 per cent of the income coming from the sale of his book to the Tsunami Relief Fund. The liberal and humane tradition of enlightenment coming since centuries in Punjab, as found in the poetry of Waris Shah and Bulleh Shah, was also reflected in Najmi's verses, the speakers observed.

He had verified the pain and distress of the common people and their aspiration for an egalitarian society. He was also inspired by Habib Jalib, a brave and outspoken person, and just like him never compromised on principles.

The way a poor worker from Punjab, living on daily wages in the mega city of Karachi, composing verses in common people's idioms and was admired and respected, only reflected the cosmopolitan culture of the city and its enlightened persons around, Aitezaz Ahsan said, and hoped that Karachi, through such cultural events, would regain its past glory.

Ahmad Shah, a cultural activist, conducted the proceedings. The function was co-hosted by Baba Najmi Golden Jubilee Committee.