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AUGUST 14, 2005- TWO DIFFERENT CELEBRATIONS THIS YEAR

This year Pakistan’s’ independence day was celebrated and de-celebrated simultaneously by two different
schools of thoughts in and outside the country. As usual in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar the
day began with official artillery solutes, colorful flags and fireworks, patriotic songs and large expensive
official and unofficial feasts and congregations. Flag ceremony and artillery fire was organized in Quetta
too, but those who attended these gatherings had some itching news about the activities of the resistance
groups who decelerated the day few hours back differently with militant and subversive activities that
rocked almost all the important cities and towns including Quetta. They had already received six grim and
demoralizing reports as under:

1. Five heavy explosions in posh localities in Quetta like Satellite Town, Jinnah Town, Ayoub Stadium,
Askari Park and Sariab road rocked the city.
2. railway Station Mucch came under attack and railway track was blown up, hindering the traffic for five
hours till alternative route were arranged.
3. Airport building and FC posts in Turbat were attacked with rocket fires. This fresh attack reportedly
created panic in the administration as it was fifth consecutive subversive activity in the last week only.
4. About a dozen rockets were fired on government installations around Kohlu.
5. Gas pipe line in Sibi blown up disturbing gas supply to Khujak area.
6. .FC check posts in Mundh attacked with heavy weapons. Few days back the house of federal minister
Ms Zubaida Jalal came under rocked fire.
7. On August 17 high tension power transformer blown up near Khuzdar.
Although Mundh attack has been reported by the national press conservatively, but words have spread
through the internet that that the loss and causalities are far more than reported.

Press also reported that a large cache of arms was seized on the way to Gawadar few days back.
According to the press reports activists of BSO Alliance and BNM observed it as a black day and organized
protest with black ribbons on arms in many towns including Hub and LasBela, the home towns of Chief
Minister Mr. Jaam Yousuf.

This time the echoes of agitation reverberated on the international level too. Sindh TV in August 15 and 16
bulletins reported that scholars and activists of Baloch Society of North America and Baloch Human Rights
jointly with Sindhi activists organized demonstration to de-celebrate the Independence Day in front of
Pakistani High Commission in Washington DC. The speakers mostly PhD scholars alleged that the
establishment was violating the human rights of their nationalities back home. They condemned the
establishments policies against Balochs and Sindhis. They denounced that smaller nationalities have no
incentive to celebrate but many reasons to de-celebrate the day.

As per tradition most of the above activities were censured from the national press and electronic media.
One thing worth considering is that recent wave of terror and violence occurred after only few days of Chief
Minister Jam Yousuf’s declaration that the government has purged the militant and resistance groups, and
that their network stand wiped-out. Although his own home in Kalat was attacked with in few days after the
statement. These subversive activities may also be the natural reaction or results of recent provocative
statements by Jam Yousuf and his accomplices, where in he sarcastically commented that those who
struggled in the past were seeking and could not afford even the night meals. It appears that the traditional
center of militant activities is shifting from difficult mountainous and tribal areas of Kohlu, Barkhan, Marri
and Bugti areas to comparatively peaceful plane lands of Sibbi, Much, Mundh, Kalat, Khuzdar and Turbat
These areas are mostly out of tribal areas therefore traditional Three Leaders can not be blamed. Instead
most of these areas are under the control of the legislatures in the present government.
Given the present scenario in Balochistan, it will be in the fitness of things that Establishment in
Islamabad reconsiders her strategy towards Balochistan, find out real itching factors compelling people to
resort to join such dangerous activities, and risking their own as well as others lives.Traditional calumnies
against the nationalist that they are working for foreign elements in lieu of money will not suffice and last
fifty eight years are witness that this attitude is not working. Federal government must form a committee of
sensible persons with the members from establishment, nationalist parties and observers from NWFP
and Sindh with adequate powers to taking decisions, that must start with the accountability of present
government in the province. The committee must listen to the grievances of the people with an emphatic
ear, sort out the issues and make short term and long term planning for Balochistan.

The lethargy and lukewarm attitude of Parliamentary committee and Senate committee on Balochistan
must not be repeated. The issue must be given due weight age. Justice delayed is justice denied. In case
of an other failure to address the issue, it will be a folly at the part of establishment.

If the above mentioned activities will continue, the proposed gas pipeline project with Iran and India will
also be difficult to implement. The nationalists have already expressed their reservations about this
project. It is high time to come forward with tangible results so that our Independence day for 2006 is not
marred with such wave of terror. We all can only pray. The decisions making tools lies with those who
control the power corridors in the capital and on the rugged disturbed fields.

Nizamuddin Nizamani

(Writer is Trainer and Researcher in Ethno political Conflict Management & Development Studies)