Editorial by siddiq baluch Bleak chances for meaningful talks Off and on, mutilated bodies of missing persons are found in some disturbed parts of Balochistan throwing a dark shadow over the prospects of talks between the Government and the militants who had taken to hills following the assassination of late Nawab Bugti. Nawaz Sharif had reportedly assigned the local leaders to make arrangements for talks with the militants so that they are brought back to the mainstream politics of Pakistan. The Chief Minister, Dr Abdul Malik, is supposed to play a crucial role as other political forces in the Provincial Government are ‘totally irrelevant in a political sense’ and no militant will encourage them for any kind of talks. However, the Prime Minister of Pakistan can play a crucial role in improving the situation by prevailing on the security officials to meet the demands Dr Malik and his party colleagues are seeking. The demands included an end to the issue of mutilated bodies of missing persons, release of all in official custody and without any announcement. In a way, extra-judicial arrest and killing should be stopped. The State should end its undeclared war against the internally displaced persons numbering quarter of a million in Balochistan alone. The situation will definitely improve if the Government entrust the task of law and order to Police and Balochistan Levies sending all Federal forces, including the Para-military forces, back to the barracks or on the Iran and Afghanistan border. In other word, the elected Government of Balochistan should be placed on the driving seat asking all the public servants to take the back seat and restore complete civilian rule in Balochistan. These are difficult decisions and the security establishment may not agree to the suggestions if made by the newly elected Prime Minister, Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif. The Establishment had its own security perception claiming monopoly over it or it is not the domain of the civilian rulers and elected assemblies. Thus stubborn approach will make the prospects for meaningful talks with militant bleak blocking all the ways for any honourable and peaceful settlement of the Balochistan imbroglio. There are indications, mainly from the statements of pro-militant organizations, that Dr Malik may not be welcomed in any form of talks. If he and his Government take confidence building measures prior to talks with the support of the security Establishment or on the intervention of Mian Nawaz Sharif, then the climate for meaningful talks will further improve motivating some elements to enter into talks. Dr Allah Nazar had made his presence felt with off and on interviews with the media persons and it is any body’s guess that who else is present or available in the country for holding talks. The militant had adopted a very tough stand claiming that they will hold talks with international guarantees and also on a single point. No Government, individual or institution in Pakistan got the right to preside over the dismemberment of Pakistan or grant complete independence to Balochistan from rest of Pakistan. Thus talks prospects are bleak and future of the present Government may not look very bright in this complicated situation. However, two elderly politicians and nationalist leaders Sardar Ataullah Mengal and Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri are available if they agree to prevail on militants in any way. But the ground reality is that both the elderly nationalists are passing a retired life from active politics. However for the sake of mere talks, their doors are open for all friends and enemies like a true traditional Baloch. The Government team may visit them and exchange pleasantries instead of holding serious political negotiations. The Prime Minister had entrusted the task to the local leaders to bring the militants back to mainstream politics, If the objective could not be achieved, then Nawaz Sharif may seek a change of Government in Balochistan, voluntarily or involuntarily, to implement his agenda.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:40:05 +0000
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