THE … anxiety people all over Pakistan have over the deteriorating situation in Balochistan is beyond description. The masses had expectations that soon after assuming power, the government — by giving top priority to Balochistan — would expedite the process to find a political solution to its issues through dialogue… After completing the dialogue process in the shortest possible time [it was hoped the government] would achieve the target of restoring peace in the province by redressing the just grievances of the people. But the government could not live up to the expectations of the masses in this regard even after remaining in power for four years and presenting [its] fifth and last budget…. No concrete … measures came to the fore in connection with improving the Balochistan situation.

The Supreme Court took suo motu notice of the rising number of missing person and subsequent recovery of their mutilated bodies in Balochistan and … initiated the process to expose all those involved. Ironically, both the federal and provincial governments remained unmoved. Presiding over a high-level meeting to review the law and order situation in Balochistan, Prime Minister Gilani directed Chief Minister Raisani to make special efforts to eliminate terrorism from the province and ensure recovery of missing persons. During the meeting in Islamabad the other day, he also directed the federal law ministry to formulate laws for missing persons and finalise necessary amendments in the anti-terrorism laws. … This time the seriousness of the government could be judged from the fact that the meeting was convened a day before the visit of the prime minister to Balochistan. ... — (June 7)

Selected and translated by Zaheer Mahmood Siddiqui