BETTER late than never, as they say. The ongoing unrest in Balochistan was finally raised from a humanitarian perspective on Wednesday, with various opposition leaders pushing for political solutions to the deepening crisis that has engulfed the province in recent days.

Separately, representatives from both the government and the opposition also approached Akhtar Mengal, leader of his faction of the Balochistan National Party, to convince the veteran politician to rescind his resignation from the National Assembly and continue his advocacy and struggle for the rights of the people of his province through parliament.

It appears that the announcement of Mr Mengal’s decision to quit the assembly a day earlier was what finally shook the country’s political leadership awake. It is hoped that the concerns he has raised regarding the worsening situation in Balochistan and its causes have been registered and will now be considered with all the seriousness they deserve.

It was particularly encouraging to note the political leaders refusing to frame Balochistan’s problems in black and white. Instead, they also highlighted the policies that the state has imposed on the people of the province while denying them their right to self-representation and self-governance.

It is hoped that this is taken as a positive overture from the civilian leadership by the people of Balochistan, at a time when distrust between the state and the latter seems to be deepening at an accelerating pace. It was also positive that the political leaders present at the meeting of the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayeen-i-Pakistan opposition alliance agreed on the need for a special sitting of parliament to discuss the situation in Balochistan. If it materialises, it should be offered as a platform for the voices of that province’s citizens. It could release some of their pent-up frustrations and give the state some more time to correct its course there.

There is no doubt that the deteriorating security situation in the province needs urgent responses from the state. However, as has been seen in the past, unless these responses are carefully calibrated, they can cause a much bigger conflagration. The policies that have allowed resentment and disaffection to grow entrenched among the people of Balochistan are well-known and well-discussed. They must be discarded now. The Baloch people should be given the space in the political sphere they have long demanded from the state.

It has been deeply alarming to hear a Baloch nationalist like Mr Mengal, who chose mainstream politics instead of separatism, worry about the youth of Balochistan “taking to the mountains” because they have lost faith in democracy. Pakistan cannot afford for any of its young populations to be angry and disengaged. No nation can progress while a segment of its citizenry is kept from realising its potential. There is an urgent need for the state to acknowledge this.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2024