IN an unfortunate incident, a Pakistan Army soldier was martyred and 16 others sustained injuries after a violent mob assaulted the security forces in Gwadar. According to the ISPR, a violent mob in the garb of so-called Baloch Raji Muchi or Baloch National Gathering summoned by the Balochistan Yakjehti Committee (BYC) attacked security forces’ personnel on Monday who have been performing duties in Balochistan’s Gwadar district. The statement said fake and malicious propaganda is being spread on social media using doctored pictures and videos by the propagandists to gain sympathy and support for the unlawful violent march. The ISPR added that security forces have displayed extreme restraint to avoid unwarranted civilian casualties despite provocations and that the violent actions of the mob are unacceptable and those responsible will be brought to justice.
The provincial government and the BYC have traded blame on who was responsible for the outbreak of the violence. Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti contended “There is a significant conspiracy against Pakistan, involving certain elements, self-proclaimed human rights advocates, political leaders and social media.” He pointed out that the Government had a prior agreement with the BYC under which the venue of the gathering was to be determined by the Administration. The BYC was asked to organize the gathering at Turbat or elsewhere in the province but wondered why they insisted on gathering in Gwadar, which is at the tail end of the province. Traffic moving towards Karachi, Khuzdar, Hub, Kalat, Surab, Turbat, Panjgur and Gwadar has been affected due to the closure of the National Highway. On the other hand, the BYC alleged that the state forces attacked peaceful protestors. The incident was really shocking and seems to be a deliberate attempt to disturb the peace of a city, which is becoming the nerve centre of economic and commercial activities. It is no doubt the responsibility of the law-enforcing agencies to take measures to maintain law and order and ensure security of foreign nationals working on a number of vital projects in Gwadar. Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Prof. Ahsan Iqbal has rightly questioned the timing of the protest in Gwadar pointing out that this is being done when Pakistan and China have agreed to launch the second phase of the historic initiative of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Similar attempts were made at the time of launching of the CPEC affecting the visit of the Chinese President to Pakistan and delaying work on the initiative. Those hindering the process of all-round development in Gwadar with prospects of transforming the entire economic landscape of the province cannot be considered well-wishers of the Baloch people. The propaganda to equate developmental activities in Gwadar to ‘occupation of local resources of the province’ is aimed at misleading people of Balochistan, who have pinned great hopes on the ongoing developmental process. It is a historic opportunity for them to break shackles of poverty and come out of the exploitative circle that kept them backward and ignorant. Isn’t it right of Baloch people to enjoy fruits of progress and development and modern day amenities and services? Propaganda against law-enforcing agencies and the Pakistan Army has become a fashion in the name of missing persons but why frequent incidents of humiliating treatment of non-locals and killing of innocent souls like barbers and miners (hailing from Punjab and other provinces) is taken lightly by champions of human rights. If protestors were peaceful then who fired upon the security personnel killing one soldier and injuring several others. There should be no politics over peace, security, progress and development and instead of indulging in attempts to create a rift between the state institutions and the people, all stakeholders lend support to policies aimed at bringing Balochistan at par with other provinces. The Chief Minister has repeatedly made offers for dialogue and discussions and the other side should demonstrate its sincerity by coming to the negotiating table.
