No elections in Balochistan
Hakeem Wadhela
The Balochistan Post
Pakistan is all set to go for another election on July 25th. This election, rather selection, has nothing different to offer than what we have experienced in past. Pakistani politics, media and judiciary has always been heavily influenced by orders of the mighty Pakistani Army, who at times haven’t even shied from public belittling of ‘elected leaders’.
Historically, Pakistan has been an Army ruled state, where no worthy decisions can be taken without the approval of armed forces or the secret services. From when the theocratic state was created by British to today’s care-taker government, all have no options but to follow the line of Pakistani Army. If anybody has ever dared to deviate from the established approach, and has tried to stand against the ‘true rulers’ of the state, they have been made an example.
In other parts of Pakistan, different political parties and their candidates, which are termed ‘electables’ because of the approval chit given by the Army, are campaigning for their party manifestos and have been trying to fool people with their old slogans such as “Roti Kapra aur Makan” “Naya Pakistan” and “Para likha Punjab”. But, in Balochistan the situation is totally different. Pakistani Army has brought all their time-tested assets together to form a new party from the scratch. The BAP or Balochistan Awami Party is full of war criminals including Sarfaraz Bugti and Siraj Raisani. This party has been anticipated to form the next government due to full support by Pakistani Army and establishment.
On the other hand the notorious religious extremist and the head of local death squad Mir Shafiq Rehman Mengal has also announced to participate in elections, and with no surprises he has got his nomination papers approved without facing any difficulties. These are the characters, who are openly active against Balochistan liberation struggle and have been trying to sabotage the fabrics of Baloch society and culture by pushing religiously influenced extremist ideas into Baloch cultural values. Shafiq is also responsible for mass-graves in Tootak, Khuzdar and the suicide attacks in Sufi shrines of Sindh and Balochistan.
In the upcoming elections, Pakistani forces are trying everything to avoid the embarrassment they had to face in last general elections, when the voter turnout was less than 10%. Therefore, along with all the above mentioned puppets, Pakistan is also trying their luck with the so called nationalist parties like BNP Mengal, National Party of Dr Malik and Hasil Bezinjo, and the worst of all the BNP Awami of Ahsan Shah. Pakistani establishment has realized that it is hard to befool Baloch masses through notorious killers, therefore, now the cunning so-called political leaders will be used instead.
Pakistan Army has also forcefully moved many Baloch villagers from their ancestral lands to settle them near their army camps. In addition to using them as human shields against attacks by armed groups, the Army will also be in a better position to force them to cast votes against their will. They have also abducted many of the Baloch women and kept them in military camps to use them as sexual slaves. This will be another pressuring tactic to force people to participate in election process.
Now, here stays the most important question that why people of Balochistan are boycotting these elections and why they have no trust in Pakistani parliamentary system? The answer lies in the Pakistani history, where Baloch political leaders who tried to resolve the Baloch issue through the power of ballot paper were either sent home or put behind bars on fake charges.
Pakistan is desperate to make these elections successful as the popularity of Baloch liberation struggle has forced the establishment to show to the world that Baloch are happily living within the federation of Pakistan. However, the continuous sacrifices against the inhuman and barbaric enemy are a proof that Baloch nation’s struggle is for a much greater cause of freedom and sovereignty.
The largest pro-independence party of Balochistan, Baloch National Movement (BNM), and the organisation with most sacrifices, Baloch Student Organisation (BSO-A), have already urged the Baloch masses to boycott these ‘selections’ for a better future in a free homeland.
In the same manner, the Baloch guerrilla leaders, Aslam Baloch of BLA and Dr Allah Nizar of BLF, have also pleaded the common people to stay away from occupying state elections. Armed groups have also warned that the whole election process will be their target.
This is every Baloch’s duty to stay away from these so-called elections of rogue state as it is high time that a united message is sent to the world that Baloch are struggling for nothing but an independent homeland.
The writer is Organiser of Baloch National Movement – United Kingdom.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Balochistan Post or any of its editors.