Appearing from Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Muzaffarabad & Quetta

Wednesday, August 19, 2009, Sha'aban 27, 1430

Hypocritical hand of friendship

Ali Sukhanver

A few days back, two days before the Independence Day of Pakistan the Khan of Kalat Suleiman Dawood announced the formation of a council for Balochistan’s independence in London. Dawood said reconciliation with Pakistan was impossible without the interference of the United Nations and the European Union. “Independent Balochistan is our aim and objective. Therefore, we have formed a Council for Independent Balochistan,” he said. He assured that the Baloch of Iran would also be given representation in the council. Another Baloch leader Hyrbiyar Marri urged the Baloch people to observe 11th August as their Independence Day every year. The Baloch leaders said that contrary to the decision of both houses of Kalat State, Pakistani forces forcefully annexed Balochistan with Pakistan.

Let us turn to another page of the story; The 63rd Independence Day of Pakistan was celebrated on Friday with enthusiasm, national zeal and fervor in the provincial capital and rest of the province. The day dawned with special prayers in mosques for the country’s stability and prosperity and well-being of Ummah. The main event of the day was the befitting flag hoisting ceremony at the lawn of the provincial assembly where Chief Minister Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisani unfurled the national flag followed by the playing of the national anthem. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister Balochistan highlighted the importance of the independence and said the nation is committed to safeguard its independence, integrity and sovereignty at all cost. Meanwhile, the Speaker Balochistan Assembly launched Independence Day Bicycle Rally by handing over the national flag to the cyclists participating in the rally. In Harani, Balochistan Minister for Prisons Malik Sultan

Tareen kicked off the Day celebrations by hoisting of national flag at the DCO office. A large number of citizens attended the ceremony. In Dalbandin, the main function was held at the office of District Nazim where District Nazim Hashim Notezai along with the DCO hoisted the national flag. Similar ceremonies were held at headquarters of Kalat, Noshki, Zhob, Pishin, Killa Saifullah, Shirani and other districts.

The announcement by the Khan of Kalat and Hyrbiyar Mari in London and the statement of Nawab Raisani and other Baloch leaders on Pakistan Day celebration in Quetta and adjacent areas present two different pictures; all these leaders are Balochis by caste and by birth but have a different approach and different feelings for Pakistan. Some of them are praying for the prosperity and long life of Pakistan while others are abusing the state of Pakistan for depriving Balochistan of its basic rights. Now we have two pictures of the Baloch leaders; one of those who are among their own people on their own land and the other of those who are taking shelter in the land which does not belong to them. Do the leaders sitting away from their people have any right to represent their nation? Are they really the spokesmen of their own people or someone else? In the past few months people like Hyrbiyar Mari and Brahamdagh Bugti had been exposing their strong relations with India in their statements. And sorry to say that very respected people like Nawab of Kalat have forgotten that the decision of joining Pakistan was the decision of their respected and honourable elders. It is true even at that time some of the Baloch leaders were not in favour of joining Pakistan but it was the Holy Prophet (PBUH) who directed them through their dreams to be a part of Pakistan and being true Muslims they could never even think of ignoring the direction of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

No doubt the people of Balochistan have always been neglected. Though the previous governments of Pakistan are also responsible for this injustice but we cannot put aside the Baloch sardars. They are also accountable for the situation. They had always been taking care of their own personal interests. We have so many examples of the so-called Sardars who are keeping an army of their own and many fleets of luxurious automobiles and kingly palaces but on the other hand a common Balochi is unable even to have a glass of clear water. There are no medical and educational facilities but the Sardars never pay any attention to the sorry plight of these innocent people. If they had thought, strived and planed for the common people of Balochistan, the situation could have been much different. The common man of Balochistan is very well ware of the role of so-called Sardars in keeping him away from any type of development resulting in prosperity. Unluckily now the same sardars are making that common man realize of his deprivations.Taking full advantage of the situation created by the Sardars and the increasing poor economic conditions in Balochistan Indian Raw is aiding jobless youngsters of Balochistan with arms and using them as a conduit to smuggle drugs from Afghanistan. International think tanks and opinion makers agree that Indians are trying to brainwash the ever-crushed, ever-ignored Balochis against Pakistan. The government of Pakistan and the intelligence agencies must not overlook the heinous role played by the Raw in Balochistan.

The Balochistan issue is not an incurable disease. The people of Balochistan are very sincere, dedicated and devoted Pakistanis. They should be taken into confidence. The government should take revolutionary measures for the betterment of the people of Balochistan. It should always be kept in mind that Pakistan is surely a land of miracles. It can turn impossibilities into possibilities, abstracts into concretes and dreams into realities. Nothing is beyond the access of Pakistanis. Be it the field of science or technology, politics or economics, the nuclear research, or the war against terrorism, Pakistan always comes up with a high head.

The astonishing fact is that the whole world is busy in creating hurdles and obstructions in Pakistan’s way to its progress but the people of Pakistan are so determined and strong-minded that they never give any importance to the wind blowing against them. They are always ready to tame the wild forces. The situation in Balochistan can be very easily improved by giving autonomy to all federating units including Balochistan; in accordance with 1940 Pakistan Resolution.

This act would give birth to a new season of national progress, prosperity and stability. All time new challenges new threats, new fronts and new battles; but salute to the brave people of Balochistan for never giving up the courage and determination even in the most critical moments when their veiled enemies are offering them a hypocritical hand of friendship.

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