Two Bullets and Many Targets.

Another bomb blast in Pakistan has shaken the country. The famous Dat Darbar shrine to a sufi saint in Lahore suffered the impact of an explosive device. Thus far no group has claimed responsibility. Various factions are blaming the Illegal Afghan war for the increased social polarization in Pakistan. Expert opinion is divided on whether this was a retaliatory attack from the Ahmadi community who were recently attacked or from extremist Shia Muslims. 42 people were killed and over 180 people were injured at this popular tourist location.

It is to be noted that Data Darbar’s Incident is not the job of Ahmedis like Ahmedi’s incident was not a job of any other section. Don’t think who was the bomber but think who is the main player!!!!

The 3 bomb blasts at Data Darbar Shrine and the previous attacks on Ahmedis all are interlinked. But we the people of Pakistan thinks on the bases of sectarian or linguistics and unable to follow the clear steps of criminals who are in front of us and working on our back as well. These two incidents have to be analyzed, what can be achieved from them:

Many Ahmedis are very much true Pakistanis regardless of what their faith tells them or what they do and many of them lives outside of Pakistan so when you hit them in Pakistan, you can hire others in Pakistan or outside of Pakistan to work against the interests of Pakistan but the interests of the enemies of Pakistan. It will also encourage the inner hatred of other sections of Islam in Pakistan toward Ahmedis. Very interestingly it was being achieved by our enemies. In UK & Canada particularly many have been hired!!!!

This is the same concept of producing more anti Pakistani Taliban’s, same manual with different subject to practice with. In Musharraf’s era and similarly in Zardari when you hit the families of poor tribal people they will go for revenge against government of Pakistan or interests of Pakistan. It also has to be understood with; this Ahmedi’s situation and now with Data Darbar’s one. Ahmedi’s are also on hire posts in Pakistan and when you hit their love ones and propagate that it is done by other sections they will react in negative but sharp way not like the uneducated tribal poor people but both will be working unconsciously for the one aim; “Destabilize Pakistan”!!!

Let us think now on the linguistic division with a good quote by my friend, “River has two fronts, Pakistan is based on Indus valley, so 1st divide it on two fronts of Indus river” supported by this argument:
“Eastern side of Indus river is dominated by Sindhis, Mohajirs and Punjabi and western one is less populated and being dominated by Pashtuns and Balochs. Western one has more area and eastern have more population, western have resources and eastern have talent. So let’s divide? “

In Punjab or Sindh when you speak about Taliban generally people stereo type it with Pashtoons, even they don’t know that they are the real defenders of Pakistan for western borders as well in Kashmir. The Data Darbar’s incident will highlight this issue on linguistic lines in Punjab now. If you see that Pashtuns are great warriors and excellent business men as well. From Raja Bazar Rawalpindi to Liberty chowk Lahore. Many have different business. So speaking frankly Thursday’s incident will stereo type them and more hatred will be faced by Pashtuns from Punjabis like they are being in clash with Mohajirs in Karachi, which may also provide the ways of linguistic based target killings similarly to Karachi and Quetta. Lahore is next front for target killings. Think about it!!!

Timing of Data Darbar’s incidents is matching the aggressive up rise in held Jammu & Kashmir. Indian involvement cannot be denied at this time. It will also project the failure of Pakistan as Islamic Religious Symbol to outer world. Generally people do not think what is really happening but what they see on TV they accept it as truth which is running our minds on their wishes. So stop thinking like what TV tells you but think in a broader circle. Media projects only current news, so they make bigger news to fade their own deeds on previous one as we discusses only current news in our drawing rooms but forget the issues behind them.

Political benefit is another hit by Data Darbar’s bomb blast. PPP vs PML(N), Punjab vs Federation, Fake Degree issues, Budget Blunder, Zardari’s smile on our blood all are being fade due to this incident, and that is the inner political benefits to all ugly corrupt politicians of our beloved country. I quote now the sayings of Rahman Malik:

The interior minister further said that the federal government had already hinted the provincial governments that after Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa the terrorists would target Punjab and Sindh and today it is proved. He said the security forces law enforcement agencies and police are ready and on high alert to combat the curse of terrorism.

Let me ask you Sir, if you have informed the Punjab government why don’t you show publically the faces of terrorists, why don’t their cases are being solved in weeks? Why another incident is being created when we were just shaken by the previous one? Why backwater is not being stopped for their terrorism in Pakistan? Why you always says about intelligence reports after incidents why don’t you work on them before to stop these type of incidents to ever happen?
Why don’t you resign if you are being failed to provide security or you are not sincere to our country & your title. People of Pakistan need answers not smiles from you and your divine leader Zardari!!!

So stop thinking like they want you to think, think from your own mind not by their, seek the truth leave the differences behind if you want a good future of Pakistan or for yourself & your family. Be practical and stand against the enemies of Pakistan whether external or internal. Otherwise someone will be standing on your body in future like in Iraq or Afghanistan.

DON’T FORGET WHAT YOU ARE, WHER YOU LIVE, WHERE ARE YOU FROM & WHO IS YOUR REAL ENEMY!!

THANKS & REGARDS.

Professor Nazima Talib

She was a teacher not an army soldier who dropped bombs on Balochs, I will become a teacher not a BLA terrorist who kills people on the bases of race and hate. She was a settler in Baluchistan and I’m a settler from Baluchistan. What happened to her will might happen to me. So what is the difference now between her and my future?

Intellectuals, bureaucrats, security personnel, educationists, politicians, particularly of non-Baloch origin, by terrorists of the Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other sectarian/jihadi groups. Professor Nazima Talib Mehdi was Assistant Professor at Mass Communication Department of Balochistan University. Her students told reporters Ms. Nazima was one of the pioneers of the Mass Communication Department of the University of Balochistan. She was also an intellectual and poetess and had participated in several Mushairas in Quetta and other cities, including literary programs of the Radio Pakistan.

It is common practice in the (so called) leftist and progressive circles of Pakistan to blame Punjab for all failures of the country as a federation and also for the sufferings of ethnic and religious minorities. What remains however ignored is the fact that dominant majority of Punjabis (i.e. Punjabis, Saraikis and other ethnicities living in the Punjab province) are as disempowered and miserable as are the people living in other provinces and areas of Pakistan. While by virtue of a number of factors, not least their demographic majority in the federation of Pakistan, Punjabis have a greater share not only in the national parliament but also in other institutions of power including army, bureaucracy and judiciary, the majority of Punjabis however lack influence or participation in such institutions. A powerful elite manages to rule and represent the Punjab province, a state of affairs which is not much different from other provinces which are ruled by the Sindhi elite, the Pakhtun elite and the Baloch elite.

Yet, it remains a popular practice to blame Punjab and the Punjabis for the suffering, discrimination and high-handedness facing all Pakistanis, particularly those of minority ethnic backgrounds, e.g., Sindhis, Baloch and Pakhtuns.

Consequently, what remains widely ignored and invisible in the Pakistani and international media is the plight of ordinary Punjabis who are a convenient scapegoat and at times have to pay for their ethnic origin through loss of life, property or both. However, stories of their plight and persecution remain untold and neglected in the media and the parliament.

This killing is to stop woman for getting education, because many of woman teachers regardless of their race are being afraid to go to their jobs. Many speaks that Pakistan didn’t built schools, universities or colleges in Baluchistan so may I ask now that why you are now demolishing those few institutions by doing such acts? I’m much shameful that many of my old teachers now abounded the education institutions in my city Quetta. So how my people are going to get education with some built closed institutions or does every person have that much money to send their children to other cities or abroad? I guess it is the same ideology to keep Balochs far from education and integration to the society, in past it might be done by Government but now Nationalists and BLA is doing the same job. No difference!!

My nation is being hijacked by some dirty people and became puppets in hand of enemy of Islam & Pakistan. Please do not think that every Baloch is a member of BLA or some other terrorist organization and wants to break Pakistan. We love Pakistan more than any other person and will stand shoulder to shoulder with other Pakistanis brothers and sisters at all costs. We just have to identify the culprits within ourselves. We have to bring them to justice in front of everyone whether they are terrorists, corrupt politicians, and Army or government officers. We have to make an example of them, so nobody can dare to think about any crime against humanity or Pakistan. We have to expose them and their ideology so that people can understand that Islam does not give favor to terrorism, racism or nationalism. We have to unite on the bases of Kalma, not on the bases of race, nation, name, etc. These things are just to identify ourselves but not our identity or ideology.

Our ideology is Islam and our Identity is Pakistan. Which is a Universal truth; people may deny this because of some bad deeds of ourselves but will not be able to change it. We may have forgotten it but we should remember now, what is our destiny? Not a divided Pakistan but a strong Islamic Pakistan. We have to work hard for it otherwise we willbecome easy dish on table for enemies of Islam and our future generations will not forgive us like we curse now the past generations for their mistakes. Enemies of Islam and Pakistan want to divide us more and more on the bases of race, language, etc. Which will not going to happen this time Inshallah!!.

We have faced many challenges before so let us face this challenge with courage. Nations are built by facing and accepting challenges!!! They cannot break us but we will break their dreams.

The Shadow and The Flame!!!

Baluchistan insurgency is the Shadow to hide the burring flame of

Kashmir’s Freedom!!

By either way, if you say Baluchistan Insurgency is terrorism than Kashmir struggle can also be said “Terrorism” and if you say Kashmir Struggle is Legal than Baluchistan Struggle can be legalized. A clever chankeya ideology of indian Zionists but without accepting the ground realities to muddle the truth!

Excluding red – wing – Marxist Balochis (Primarily Marri) most of the Balochs are Muslims, have cross marriages with others, pray shoulder to shoulder with other Pakistanis, integrated in many national and provincial departments and institutions and free to move in whole Pakistan. Is it comparable to Kashmiri Muslims to indian Hindus? Can Kashmirs moves in whole india, they are even forced to stay in home in their own cities. How many Kashmirs have cross marriages with Hindu? Religion is the main issue!!!

In January 2010, addressing Indo-Pak Conference on ‘roadmap for peace’, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation leader Yasin Malik had said that he felt no decision would ever be taken to implement a road map for peace in the State. A 3-day conference organized by a consortium of Indian fora ended, which proved an exercise in futility. Participants were invited from Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir in addition to participants from the host country and the conference was opened by former Indian premier IK Gujral. On second day of the conference ie January 11, the topic was “Issue of Autonomy: Kashmir and Balochistan”. The session was addressed by Asma Jehangir (The worst woman of Pakistan) of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and important personalities from Balochistan. One does not understand how members of Pakistani delegation had agreed to the topic, which bracketed Balochistan with Kashmir. Pakistani delegation should not have attended the conference for bracketing Balochistan with Kashmir, as the former is part of Pakistan whereas Kashmir is a disputed territory, which is pending in the United Nations. Britain is also in the picture that states in the subcontinent were allowed to join either India or Pakistan, and there was no concept of any independent state. Now Baloch sardars are peddling the idea that Balochistan was an independent entity in the plan for the partition of the subcontinent. In this backdrop, Britain should not allow leaders of the banned outfit Baloch Liberation Front to issue instructions to the insurgents in Balochistan. Prime Minister should take measures to get their headquarters of BLA closed. The long dormant crisis had erupted into a brutal confrontation with the center in 1973 when late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had tried to establish educational institutions and construction of roads in Balochistan.

The Balochistan insurgency had lasted for four years from 1973 to 1977, and it was after promulgation of Martial Law by Late General Zia-ul-Haq that sedition cases were withdrawn against Baloch sardars. It is unfortunate that neither Britain leadership nor the civil society in Pakistan consider it worthwhile to comment on what sardars have been doing to their people. No human right activist cries over the atrocities inflicted on them by their feudal lords and sardars in their private jails. It is too well known that RAW, CIA and Mossad are active in Balochistan and FATA to destabilize Pakistan, and Pakistani leadership – ruling and opposition parties - should work in unison to frustrate the designs of enemies of Pakistan. There is no denying that during British Raj and after independence Balochistan and NWFP were neglected so far as its development is concerned. But this is also true that despite being part of the provincial governments, sardars had neither done anything to develop Balochistan nor persuaded the central government to make development plans for their province. They consider all natural resources of Balochistan their personal property and want to pocket all the profits and royalties. From the statements and interviews of scions of Akbar Bugti, one can understand that the bone of contention between late Akbar Bugti and the federation arguably was that the latter wanted increase in gas royalty. As regards Mian Nawaz Sharif’s suggestion of holding talks with those who are not in Balochistan is intriguing and he is trying to draw political mileage from the contradictions between sardars and the government. He should have known that Brahamdagh Bugti is ensconced in Afghanistan near President Karzai’s palace and Mir Hybyar Marri is in London and both are reported to have the backing and support from enemies of Pakistan. It goes without saying that tribalism is firmly rooted in Balochistan, and ethnic and tribal identity is a potent force for both individuals and groups in Balochistan with the result that there exists deep polarization among different groups.

Each of these groups is based on different rules of social organization, which has left the province inexorably fragmented. Tribal group-ism has failed to integrate the state and enforce a national identity. But those who have not weaned from the poison of sham nationalism should take a look at the history of the Balkans, and the fate they met. A couple of times Sardar Ataullah Mengal appeared in a television interview, and said that America does not pay any attention and would accept any outside help to disintegrate the country. Sardar Ataullah Mengal, Sardar Khair Bakhsh Marri and scions of late Akbar Bugti should try to safeguard the interests of Baloch people but through democratic struggle and not through violence and bloodshed. It is heartening to note that there is realization on the part of the central government as well as provinces; and in this regard Punjab and Sindh have sacrificed part of their share to Balochistan.

Ever since the joint Indo-Pak statement was announced, there have been numerous discussions on India’s role in Balochistan in both countries. Pakistanis have been accusing India for interfering in Balochistan for a long time; they consider the inclusion of Balochistan in the joint statement as an admission of this by India. In India, many question the wisdom of this inclusion; especially the opposition parties who consider this as weakening India’s position. A section in India also believes that India should indeed support covert activities in Balochistan. Three important questions need to be addressed in the context. First, are the Balochis really serious about waging an insurgency against Pakistan security forces? Are they politically united and ready to fight a long political struggle to gain their rights? Second, is India capable of helping such a Balochi struggle? Is such a help feasible and practical? Finally, will such an interference help secure India's interests?

Unfortunately, much of the debate in Pakistan and India continues without a proper understanding of ground realities regarding the composition of the Balochi tribes. The Balochis are not a homogenous group and this has been the primary reason for the failure of Baloch insurgencies in the past. The latest insurgency was the fourth in a history of insurgency spanning five decades.

The Balochis are highly divided along tribal lines the Bugtis, Mengals, Marris and numerous other tribes together constitute the Balochi people. Furthermore, the three major tribes mentioned above are not only clearly differentiated from each other but are also divided within themselves. For instance, the Bugtis have been fighting the Mazaris for a long time. Akbar Bugti used his connections with the federal government to outsmart the Mazaris. At the same time, Akbar Bugti also had a long running feud with two sub clans within his own tribe Kalpars and Masuris. The federal government in Islamabad, always exploited this divide within the Bugti tribe and used the sub tribes against Akbar Bugti when it did not support his actions. The PPP-PML divide in Islamabad is also reflected in support or opposition to Akbar Bugti in Dera Bugti, the Bugti stronghold, where the Sui gas plant is also located. Akbar Bugti's relationship with the federal government waxed and waned primarily on the issue of royalty relating to the Sui gas field.

The other tribes, especially the Marris and Mengals have always been upset with and apprehensive of Bugtis on this issue. When compared to the other two stalwarts, Khair Bux Marri and Ataullah Mengal, Akbar Bugti never really rallied around for a pan-Balochi cause.

Besides the intra and inter tribal fault lines, there exist ideological differences as well. The Marris, who have been leading the Baloch insurgency, are known for their Marxist leanings; Khair Bux Marri's sons were educated in Moscow. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) which was leading the insurgency was primarily a Marri force. Bugtis never got involved with the BLA in a major way.

Any debate in India towards helping the Balochis or interfering in Balochistan should first take into account the basic structure and strength of Baloch nationalism. Second, any Indian support to Balochis should assess the nature of the Indian state's support to regional movements in the neighborhood in a historical perspective. Is India really willing to support a movement such as this to its conclusion in this context, an independent Balochistan? If providing support is limited to identifying the issue in a joint statement or providing limited funds to some Balochi leaders settled in UK or elsewhere, it will be best for India to keep away from such an initiative.

Third, despite some international inputs on an independent Balochistan theory, no state is interested at the global level (read the US or Russia) or at regional level (Iran) to help the Balochis achieve an independent nationhood.

Fourth, India and the international community should also understand that Islamabad will brutally suppress any movement led by the Balochis. Like the previous attempt in the 1970s, the latest insurgency was also brutally suppressed by the State in Pakistan

Finally, New Delhi also has to make up its mind on how it sees its own security vis-a-vis Pakistan. Is a stable Pakistan in India’s interests? If it is indeed so, then New Delhi needs to work with Islamabad.

The True and Ugly face of Baluchistan Government

The True and Ugly face of Baluchistan Government

“This is our responsibility which we will fulfill at every cost. A handful of criminals will not be allowed to take the entire society hostage. The government has taken serious notice of kidnapping for ransom, robberies, etc.”

But, what about your own involvement in these crimes? And highest corruption rate of Baluchistan Government? Providing cover support to insurgents and working against the interests of Pakistan.

You are corrupt and ugly!!!

Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani: Beforegoing to detail I want to put some recent activities of Government of Baluchistan

or Raisani.

June 30, 2010: Many of us know now by favorite quote of Raisani “Degree is degree fake or original doesn’t make difference” but for him not for intellectuals.

June 29, 2010: Americans were finalizing land to build their consulate to make Baluchistan situation worst and good for their interests. SP security and Raisani’s personal men were escorting them.

June 28: The Baluchistan Assembly on Monday unanimously approved next financial year 2010-11 budget with a record short span of 45 minutes. Was it a budget or what no discussion no publications? Was budget made in their homes or to lout the money of people and then blame again the injustices of federation or Punjab or PAKISTAN?

June 15, 2010: Duty officer of S.Town P. Station were asked by anonymous man why didn’t you or Police identify the Target killers or why doesn’t you pursue them for at least the murder of your own S.H.O. He said if we have or

ders we can finish them off within 48 hours, Murdered SHO was after them, but what can we do when Government stop us to do what we have to do. Think About that?

June 2010: Owner of Bukhari Petroleum service is kidnaped, who is behind it? Or will it be like the story of Owner of Ahmed Store? Owner of Ahmed store was released after the payment of 30Million in UK, caller was from Afghanistan. Think if you send just 2000 by western union or easy paisa or by bank it is being recorded. That money was transferred by bank wire. And the person being discussed is involved. Think about it.

June 2010: Raisani received 4 fingers of his brother, why? Because his brother was dealing in land mafia, car theft and in kidnapping activities … Finger sent by the family of a kidnaped person… what is in that?

June 2010: One employee of UNDP was kidnaped three months ago and kidnapers demanded 10Million as ransom, government or UN didn’t paid it. In June they sent a CD showing the brutal killing of him and demanding 1Million for the body and head? But Raisani said we will provide cover to NGO’s and UN offices and BLUF has sent direct threat letters to close those offices. Did u remember John Saluki case ? he was released because Government of Baluchistan released 1000 terrorists of BLA and BLF? The money came from our pocket and went to culprit’s pocket only to kill us? Interesting isn’t it?

Baluchistan Chief Minister Nawab Muhammad Aslam Raisani’s continued stance that the Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA) is not behind the recent “target killings” in the province despite the BLA’s claims to the contrary appears to disprove the government’s claims of minimal support for the underground organization. The government also appears to waver between refusing to acknowledge the existence of the BLA or holding “external forces” responsible for destabilizing Baluchistan. On its part, the BLA appears to be offended by Raisani’s remarks. One of its spokesmen, Bibarg Baloch, told Daily Times that the CM was discrediting the “Baloch freedom fighters” of their “heroic actions”. The underground organization has recommended that the CM should rather speak out against the federal government, as well as the army, which he claims is still carrying out a military operation in certain parts of Baluchistan. A murder is a heroic cause or action?

Initially, Raisani assured the families of the victims that the culprits who had kidnapped their loved ones would be brought to justice. However, he categorically ruled out the involvement of the BLA in such attacks. Despite the proud reiteration by the BLA of its involvement in the killing of the six Hazara men, the CM maintained that the BLA could not target “innocent people”. The Baloch CM sincerely believes that the BLA came about as an outcome of the injustices done to the people of Balochistan in the past. Reading between the lines, the CM appears to be saying that the BLA is “fighting for a just cause”. Therefore, it can’t attack “innocent civilians”. And innocents are ding isn’t it? Where is the Police? IG was not appointed in Balochistan since last 3 months. Brave police officers are being transferred to administrative departments and worst culprits are being appointed on operations and investigations. Think about it? When Harbyar Mari, a terrorist given sanctuary and protection by the British government, is preparing to declare the 'independence' of Balochistan on 11 August, 2009. Where was Raisani’s government? FC came to stop this not Police because Police was ordered to stay out of it. But FC is not answerable to Raisani so some situation is under control but why Raisani is still there?

Some other facts regarding Baluchistan issue

Zardari government is preparing to grant 'full autonomy' to Balochistan within the Pakistani federation. In essence, this means Pakistan will soon have its own version of Iraq's Kurdistan. Considering the volatile security situation in the region and the active interest of both the Americans and Indians in wresting Balochistan from Pakistani hands, this would prove to be a kiss of death for Pakistan's national integrity. The US media is quiet these days on the so-called Greater Pashtunistan, but in the last two years, the US media leaked story after story on the feasibility of this option. These leaked reports reflected an organized campaign by people within Pentagon and CIA. This campaign ceased only after protests by Pakistani officials. Another reason why this campaign stopped is to give some space to unknown 'terrorists' who have infiltrated from Afghanistan to Pakistan under the guise of the so-called Pakistani Taliban. The Kabul regime and its Indian and American allies were hoping that the death and mayhem created among Pakistani Pashtuns would be enough to rally the Pashtun of both Pakistan and Afghanistan to demand an independent country. Luckily, the Pakistani Pashtun, who are an important and active part of thePakistani society and the power structure, understood the game and refused to play along despite enticements coming from inside the Afghan territory.

Zardari government to give part of the Balochistan coastal are to the US Navy to construct a port that would serve the US occupation forces in Afghanistan. Surprisingly, the Zardari government is actually considering the option. Mr. Zardari is also eager to get back at China, which refused to financially bail out his corrupt pro-American government. China financed part of the Gwadar project. Meanwhile the potential of the Gwadar port has almost been destroyed and it is a matter of time before Pakistan's inept politicians turn it into another irretrievable mess. First Akbar Bugti and his foreign-supported terrorists attacked the project. Now the political parties in power are playing their usual games over the project in the hope of milking maximum kickbacks. So far the Zardari government is yet to commit funds for the remaining parts of the Gwadar port expansion. This happens while the Indians have completed and operationalized the competing Iranian port of Chah Bahar. The US surprisingly permitted Iranian and Indian companies to build roads in eastern Afghanistan connecting the Indian port despite the American aversion to anything that benefits Iran. Balochistan is an American target. Pakistani politicians and some people within the Pakistani security establishment should make no mistake about it. CIA is supporting Sunni Balochis in Iran while backing an ethnic insurgency in Pakistan. It is not a coincidence that Jundullah in Iran and BLA in Pakistan emerged after the arrival of US military and CIA in Afghanistan, in the past five years to be more specific. Before 2004, there was no BLA or Jundullah anywhere.

Washington continues to refuse to declare the so-called Balochistan Liberation Army a terrorist group despite the fact that this group has claimed responsibility for killing countless college professors and other civilians in random acts of terror in Pakistan over the past five years. Some Pakistani analysts cite strong circumstantial evidence that the CIA is running operations in the area that may not be in the full knowledge of the new US administration and may in fact contradict the stated US policy of not supporting terrorism and covert operations against allies.

Some other high profile culprits taken from online resources.

Mohammad Aslam Bhoothani: He is the current speaker of the Baluchistan Assembly. He is in fact a king-maker who has got the ability to actively lobby on key issues. Despite belonging to the federalist PML-Q, he has nationalistic tendencies. He made headlines when he publicly condemned the killing of Nawab Bugti despite being in the ruling party in 2006. He refused to allow religious prayers to be offered on the floor of the Baluchistan Assembly for the departed soul of Raziq Bugti, a spokesman of the Baluchistan government who was killed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
Basically, we have the politics of vested interests here in Baluchistan where personal interests dominate political ideologies. Therefore, one does not have to be surprised if differences break out and Bhoothani starts supporting a new candidate. In return of his support to Raisani while making him the CM, Bhoothani, who remained the Deputy Speaker of the Baluchistan Assembly in the previous government, was offered the office of Speakership of the Baluchistan Assembly. He became the first Speaker in the history of Baluchistan to be elected unopposed. He enjoys the support of 13 MPAs in Baluchistan Assembly.

Maulana Abdul Wasay: Wasay is the parliamentary leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazal) and the Senior Minister in Baluchistan government. JUI has always had a key role in the coalition governments in Baluchistan. Historically, it never sat on the opposition benches but always supported the provincial governments in return of key ministries. He served as the Planning and Development Minister in the previous government. Wasay is known as a very good negotiator who has got the ability to make and break governments. His party, with 10 seats in Baluchistan Assembly, means a lot not only to Raisani but anyone who forms a government in Baluchistan. The right wing JUI has had an old policy of supporting every government in Baluchistan in return of getting important ministries. This strategy has significantly helped them to earn a lot of money through corruption and then use the same amount during their electoral campaigns. After remaining in power for so many years, the JUI has now made it very difficult for its rival parties in majority of Pashtoon areas to win elections against its candidates. Wasay is known as a political blackmailer. During the previous government, we saw him boycotting the proceedings of the Baluchistan Assembly on a number of occasions which extraordinarily embarrassed the provincial government. He has not used this card very frequently against the Raisani government yet. But the Chief Minister will surely have no options but to concede to whatever demands the Mulana puts before the government.

Syed Ehsan Shah: A former Finance Minister and the current minister for Industries, Shah is the parliamentary leader of the Baluchistan National Party (Awami). While JUI was the only party known in the past to side with every government, BNP-A is the new breed of pro-Establishment parties in Baluchistan. Claiming to be a Baloch nationalist party, BNP supported the previous government of PML-Q in Quetta and endorsed all policies of General Musharraf. Now, the same party is supporting the policies of Zardari and calling Musharraf a bad guy. Shah and his party have had an important role in Mekran region (comprising of the Baloch-majority districts of Turbat, Gwadar and Panjgur) where the National Party had a strong grip in the past. Now, the BNP-Awami is overpowering and countering the nationalist parties in Mekran region. Shah is an experienced politician who has a good knowledge of financial affairs due his stint as the finance minister for several years. In return of his support to Raisani, he has been able to accommodate around five MPAs from his party as ministers (Asadullah Baloch, Asghar Rind, Ghulam Jan Baloch, Zafarullah Zehri and himself) out of total seven BNP MPAs. Raisani trusts him and his party-mates because they are all Balochi-speakers. So, ethnic relations give Raisani more faith in Shah and vice versa against the Pashtoon-dominated JUI.

Sadiq Umrani: Sadiq Umrani is the parliamentary leader of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party and minister for Communication and Works. This is a lucrative ministry that involves too much money. This ministry is always given to someone important whose mouth the CM believes needs to be kept quite permanently. There are genuine reasons why Raisani had to give this profitable (I call it profitable because the ministers get huge amounts as kickback in return of awarding construction contracts to major firms and companies) to Umrani. Umrani is a much more senior PPP leader to Raisani and his brother Lashkari, the provincial president of the PPP. He remained in jail during the 1980s due to his commitment with the PPP. Umrani, ambitious to become PPP’s nominee for the office of chief minister, publicly opposed Raisani for the highest executive position in the province saying that Raisani was not a true PPP loyalist. The advantage Umran has is his immense popularity and widespread support among the PPPP voters while the disadvantage for him is his middle-class background. In Balochistan’s entrenched tribal set-up, it is hard for the members of the middle class families, irrespective of their democratic credentials, to achieve such key positions like the office of Chief Minster. The seemingly agreed deal between the two, the CM and Umrani, is let’s not expose each other in public. Umrani has the capability of upsetting Raisani any time. He did so in April 2009 when he accused the CM of corruption and nepotism. As a result Raisani expelled him from the provincial cabinet. However, the CM had to withdraw the decision once the central leadership of the PPP intervened and asked Raisani to take review his decisions. This clearly shows the strong links Umrani has with President Zardari and top leadership of the PPP.

Sardar Aslam Bizenjo: Bizenjo is the minister for irrigation and the parliamentary leader of the nine-member “Independent Group”. While the Baloch nationalist parties apparently boycotted the general elections of February 2008, they all secretly contested the elections by pitting candidates as Independent contenders. Bizenjo is a very close member of the National Party and the majority of the 9 Independent MPAs are in fact the members of Baloch nationalist parties such as the BNP and NP. His support for Raisani is instrumental because he plays the role of a bridge between the government and the annoyed Baloch nationalists. If Raisani starts checking the corruption of Bizenjo and his like-minded MPAs, they will overnight turn into Baloch nationalists in the Balochistan Assembly and cause serious trouble for him by raising the issue of missing persons, military operation etc. Right now, they are enjoying ministries and they prefer to keep silence on such issues that embarrass the CM. Bizenjo is also a prominent tribal leader. If his interests are harmed, then he will withdraw the support of 9 MPAs from the Raisani government which could gain the support of more MPAs keeping in view the tribal links of his with the others.

Sardar Sanaullah Zehri: He is the provincial minister for Services and General Administration. He is more popularly known as the Chief of Jhalwan or the head of Zehri tribe. In Balochistan’s tribal set-up, he is a very, very influential Sardar. He is the brother of Mir Israr Zehri, the chief of Balochistan National Party Awami and the federal minister for Postal Affairs. His younger brother, Mir Zafarullah Zehri, is currently serving as the Provincial Interior Minister. Zehri is a Baloch nationalist who remained the senior vice president of the National Party. He developed differences with his party leadership when the party decided to boycott the general elections and Zehri wanted to go ahead with the polls. As a result, he formulated his own party called National Party Parliamentarian. The inclusion of Zehri in the provincial government gives Raisani much confidence. In case Zehri pulls out of the government, it will demoralize the CM that he has lost the support of one of the most influential tribal leaders of Balochistan. Zehri has an important role to play in maintaining peace in Khuzdar district. If differences break out between him and the CM, Zehris have got the capability of making Khuzdar a ”no-go-area”. This highway connects Quetta with Karachi.

Engineer Zumurak Khan: He is the provincial Revenue Minister and the parliamentary leader of the Awami National Party (ANP). His support to Raisani gives the latter the confidence to proudly claim to have the support of Pashtoon nationalists of Balochistan. ANP is already a coalition partner of the PPP in North Western Frontier Province, Sindh and the Center. However, Mr. Khan could emerge as a threat for Raisani in case he begins to play the “Pashtoon card” by saying, for example, that the CM is not paying ample attention to the development of Pashtoon population and giving job opportunities etc. So, it is very essential for the Raisani to please Mr. Khan. The out-of parliament Pashtoonkhawai Milli Awami Party, which is more dominant in Balochistan as compared to ANP, has accused Raisani of being more pro-Baloch and doing nothing for the interests of the Pashtoons of the province. But the presence of the ANP in Balochistan government helps Raisani to say that if he did not stand for the rights of the Pashtoons then he would not include ANP leaders in his cabinet.

Mir Amanullah Notezai: Notezai is a key leader of the PML-Q (like-minded group). He is the provincial minister for Transportation. Hailing from Dalbandin area. In the previous government, he served as the minister for Excise and Taxation. His electoral constituency is known as the crossing point of the drug business from Afghanistan. In addition, he is the most influential man in the area where the Reko Dik and Sandik gold and copper projects are located. Raisani needs him to ensure safe exploration at Reko Dik and Sandik. He influences a few other MPAs of the region as well such as former home minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani.
Mir Asim Kurd Gillo: Gillo is the current finance minister of Balochistan. He served as the minister for Revenue in the previous government. He is very influential in the PML-Q and can break and make governments. He is the closest with CM Raisani. No minister gets a chance to travel as exensively with the chief minister as Gillo. He is a multi-billionaire.

Shiek Jaffar Khan Mandokhel: Mandokhel is a seasoned politician from the Pakistan Muslim League (Q). He does not support the PML-Q faction headed by Aslam Bhoothani. He is a former finance minister. After Bhoothani, he is the only not-a-minister in the list of ten most influential men in Raisani’s government. Mandokhel is a Pashtoon and wanted to become the chief ministerial candidate of his party but his dreams shattered when a majority of the Balochi-speakers from his own party, backed by Speaker Aslam Bhoothani, preferred to vote for Raisani, a Baloch. Seeing that everyone in the Balochistan Assembly voted in support of Raisani, Mandokhel and his group of six members also offered support to Raisani. He does not have major stakes in the provincial government. Therefore, he won’t lose anything if he decides one fine morning to sit on the opposition benches.

Balochistan on the way to Pakhtun-Baloch Clash

Balochistan on the way to Pakhtun-Baloch Clash

Governance is the prime issue of our country. Most problems, including separatist movements, the energy crisis, law and order, terrorism, inflation, economic backwardness and corruption, are invariably caused, among others, by bad governance. This very weakness has hampered the solution of these other problems, which are getting worse. The situation in Balochistan is deteriorating not by months but by weeks and days. The two major ethnic groups, the Pakhtuns and Balochs, are on the path of ethnic confrontation if the downward slide in relations between the two communities is not reversed. Besides, other fissures that are just bubbling below the surface, the new dynamic has the potential to simply make the situation spiral out of control for the federal authorities. The ties between the two communities are hostage to radical groups like the BLA, criminal gangs and kidnapping mafia that mostly get patronage from certain powerful Baloch elite: The first underlying dynamic for potential Pakhtun-Baloch strife, is the targeted killings. The Pashtun grievances are increasing day by day with their demands becoming more unreasonable with the passage of every day which indicates how difficult the coexistence of Baloch and Pashtun is turning out to become in the future. The Pashtunkhawa Milli Awami Party, the representative party of the Pashtuns living in Balochistan, has been continuously asking for “equal status” for the Pashtuns against the majority Baloch population. Irrespective of the fact as to how legitimate the Pashtun demands are, the Balochs believe such claims are unrealistic while recently Over forty students were injured in clashes between Baloch and Pashtun groups of students in four different educational institutions of Balochistan on Monday. Police arrested 20 students after clashes.Police said, initially clash erupted at Agriculture College Quetta over a petty issue between activists of Baloch Students Organisation (BSO-Azad) and Pashtoon Students Organisation (PSO) in which 17 students received wounds as they used sticks and Iron fists against each other. In Balochistan, apart from the Baloch insurgency, the sense of deprivation and alienation among Pakhtuns is on the rise. The incapable and corrupt government in Quetta is least inclined to addressing the important issues which have irreparably harmed the Baloch's trust in the state and its institutions. The state institutions have failed to stop targeted killings of both Baloch and settlers. In response, the settlers have also started thinking of organising and getting armed to defend themselves against the killers. Balochistan’s targeted killings have claimed over 1500 lives in the past two years. The Baloch extremists only targeted ethnic Punjabis. But now Pakhtuns have ended up on the Baloch militants hit list. The recent targeted killing of Khuram Shezad Yousufzai is indicative of the fact that the militants have expanded the campaign to include Pakhtun community. The other equally disturbing dynamic is the safety of the two important highways linking Quetta with Karachi. These two highways pass though Baloch dominated areas: the first Quetta, Mastung-Kalat Khuzdar High way and the second is Quetta-Sibi-Dera Murad Jamali High way. Bound for Karachi, thousands of Pakhtun dominated transporters: Trawlers, trucks, buses, cars and ordinary passengers pass through these major highways daily. Over the past several months these vehicles, including goods and in many instances passengers have been looted on gun point. Several innocent drivers were also killed, including a driver of NATO supply truck a couple of days back. Over the past couple of days many more important people have been kidnapped. A leading businessman of Bohra community - a minority but wealthy community in Quetta - was kidnapped in broad daylight by several armed men. The kidnapping mafia has a roaring business in Balochistan and a leading political figure of the provincial government has been accused of running the gangs in the hilly areas of Mastung. The well off families have taken upon themselves the task of protection from the mafias. They have started erecting walls blocking streets with concrete and bricks to make difficult for criminal gangs to openly operate in their neighbourhood. In the main Quetta city, after seven o’clock in the evening, one ventures out on the street on his/her peril. The middle class families are particularly at the receiving end of the situation. But they cannot have their own security and police to take care of: going to schools for well off kids has become a challenge given the worsening law and order problem. Mothers start panicking when their children get late from schools. The recent much touted Aghaz Haqooq Balochistan package did offer peanuts to Pakhtun and other Punjabi and Hazara communities of the province. There is another problem: the local correspondents and media representatives are facing great danger if they try to highlight these problems. They face threats from Baloch militants, the organised crimes, the kidnapping mafia and the tribal high-ups in the provincial government who have their own security guards. The mainstream media is more focused on issues related to Pakistan core - Punjab and SIndh than Khyber Pakhtunkwah and Balochistan. Pakhtuns and Punjabi community in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan blame Baloch militants and elements of the provincial government for the deteriorating law and order situation. They being mainly represented in business and private service sectors respectively are hard pressed in the current situation, as compared to their Baloch counterparts who overwhelmingly depend on government sector jobs and thus immune to any fluctuation in income owing to poor law and order. But without taking into account particularly the interest of the Pakhtuns (constituting half of the province population), the present Baloch government cannot properly function. As Pakhtuns are more organised politically and their prolonged protest would simply paralyse Quetta city which is the seat of Balochistan provincial government, thus the provincial government. The moderate political leadership of the two ethnic groups is being sandwiched between the need to restraint the extremists voices, on one hand and, the pressure for not doing enough to arrest the downward trend in relations between the two communities. Many Pakhtun groups like the farmer associations, the business community, the transporters’ union and students unions have brought to bear tremendous pressure on the Pakhtun political leadership of the province to stand up to perceived/real Baloch excesses. There is a suggestion floated that grand Pakhtun conference be called in to ponder upon the existing situation of the province and chalk out a common course of action for Pakhtuns. Last time a after a Pakhtun Jirga, the Baloch dominated provincial government was paralysed for days. For the ordinary citizens of the province it is doom and gloom scenario: they do not expect policy makers in Islamabad would intervene. They do not have much hope that these problems will be resolved soon. But If timely intervention is not forthcoming any strife between the Pakhtuns and the Balochs has the potential to turn the province into a burning tab. This is already worse time for the province, as a thin veneer of law and order barely keeps the seething, bubbling cauldron of chaos and anarchy in check. In such a situation, the last thing one wants is ethnic clashes between the two communities. The powerful elite in Islamabad should come out of their slumber. The sooner the underlying dynamics of Balochistan are addressed, the better for the people of the province and the country. Unfortunately, the media, the intellectuals, the political parties and their leaders have failed to address the basic issue of governance in right earnest. All of them are wasting energies on bringing down an individual, or on increasing or slashing the powers of an institution. This tug-of-war among powerful sections of the society creates confusion and hopelessness, which are then exploited by ambitious individuals in uniform or opportunist democrats. In this struggle, at times the judiciary becomes more powerful and at other times other institutions arrogate more powers. The situation is not going to improve unless the opposition and the government, the leftist and rightists, the civilians and the army, the media and the intellectuals and the elite of this society get together and create various commissions which should analyse every government institution to diagnose problems and suggest practicable solutions. This nation is not totally corrupt, dishonest or incapable. If the basic flaws in governance are removed, not only will the corrupt be weeded out but the state will be able to deliver.