APROPOS the letter ‘Sardari System’ (June 15). The writer has repeated the Centre’s decades-long narrative that the Balochistan problem is actually the Sardari system.

Makran division has the largest population in Balochistan and the entire area has no sardari system at all, but they still suffer from the same problems as those afflicting other parts of Balochistan. Blaming sardars and the sardari system is the establishment’s favourite scapegoat.

The writer states the sardars were empowered by the British Raj to enslave tribesmen to stop them from revolting against the British. Well the British are long gone and the sardars are still powerful, so who is empowering them now? The most logical answer would point fingers towards the establishment.

Balochistan is a federating unit of Pakistan, and the people of this province will govern it by themselves, asking the Centre for assistance when required.

Maqbool Sasoli
Khuzdar

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I AGREE that the sardari system is a legacy of the British Raj but then no person is born to rule forever, a sardar or anyone else. We should not ignore the reality that most problems faced by the people in Balochistan and other provinces are also a legacy of the past that prevail in other parts of Pakistan also.

In my province, Sindh, the sardari system is still previling where the big feudal lords maintain private jails. In many rural areas the area police is subservient to the local wadera. The issues of bonded labour living no better than cattle, honour killings, holding jirgas to decide cases, wanton water theft by the feudals — all this is far too common because the sardari system holds sway.

There is a ray of light, however. Educated Sindhi youth are contesting in this election against sardars and other powerful people. The educated youth of Balochistan should contest elections and provide the province good governance so the people prosper.

Zulfiqar Khaki
Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2018