NEW DELHI: The view expressed by Sir Aubery Metcalfe recently at a meeting in London that there was no general local enthusiasm of a deep-rooted nature for any drastic change in the existing system of administration in Baluchistan has been widely condemned by the Muslim League and Congress and other members of the Central Assembly. Sir Aubery Metcalfe, like other retired Englishmen from India, had misrepresented the desire of the people of Baluchistan, it is stated.

It may be recalled that several attempts have been made in the past through different sources to impress upon the Government of India and His Majesty’s Government to grant the people of Baluchistan the status of a full-fledged provincial autonomy. As is usual with British statesmen, all sorts of promises were made [but] no effective step... has been made so far...

Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan in his speech declared that conditions prevailing in Balu­chistan were mediaeval. The system of Govern­ment was feudal and the people were not treated as human beings but as chattels.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2020