Balochistan News Letter – January 2013

This is a brief Talk of the Town Report compiled for those interested in Balochistan. Significant developments are listed hereunder.

Shia Protestors who brought about the removal of Raisani government in Baluchistan

1. Law and Order Situation, 1- 9 Jan. Two militants died in Dera Bugti area, one due to field mine and one in a shootout. The replacement of the ousted Speaker of PA was sworn in while for the first time a woman was sworn in as Deputy Speaker. A businessman was kidnapped and a man and his two children were killed by unknown persons in Panjgur. A Sunni cleric was injured in firing in Quetta. Miscreants fired at a passenger train passing through Bolan Pass going to Rawalpindi, killing five passengers and wounding 10. Two persons died in a bomb blast in Sariab Road area and three men were shot dead in Quetta. Recently started PIA flight between Quetta-Kandahar was attacked by rockets which fell on the Kandahar runway without any harm. Kachhi Canal was to be inaugurated by the PM on 8 Jan East of Sui. Reportedly some rockets fell in the area and the PM’s visit was cancelled attributing it to weather in Lahore. Instead, the Governor inaugurated it. Three Punjabi drivers bringing LPG fuel from Iran were killed near the border by unknown persons. Huge cache of arms and explosives was seized in Quetta on 9 Jan.

2. Election Preparations, 10 Jan. Dr. Tahirul Qadri’s planned Long March for constitutional reforms has been condemned by various Baloch/Brahui political leaders primarily for fear of delay in Elections. However, many consider Dr. Qadri to be raising a patriotic and sane voice. Across ethnic/racial divide, all political parties are getting ready for election. Almost every day some obscure person or group makes announcement of joining one political party or another while the PPP leaders declare their resolve to hold elections on time. Mahmud Achakzai, head of PKMAP, has called for rights of Pashtuns by establishing ‘two-nation Baloch Pashtun province’, instead of Balochistan. This, he opined will ensure peace by providing equity and justice. Interestingly, a Brahui Group also demanded a separate ‘Brahui province’.

3. Governor’s Rule Due to Anarchy, 10-14 Jan. A bomb exploded in Quetta city center killing 12 persons and wounding some 30 persons of different ethnic/racial mix on 10 Jan. Two hours later a suicide bomber entered a snookers hall in Shia-Hazara area and exploded. About 15 minutes later, when all the rescue and media men had gathered, a vehicle loaded with explosive, in the garb of an ambulance, rammed into the crowd killing 104 and wounding nearly 200. Besides Shia-Hazaras who suffered the most, 6 media-men, 9 policemen, several volunteers including Edhi workers were among the dead. This was the biggest loss of lives in one day. For 4 days Quetta came to a standstill. Hundreds of Hazaras sat down on the road with the dead in coffins in sub zero temperatures and refused to bury their dead unless the provincial government was dismissed and the city handed over to Army. Similar sit ins started in all major cities, even abroad, in sympathy with the Hazaras. They braved the freezing cold and drizzle for 3 day and nights, till the PM arrived. Late on 14 Jan, after long negotiations, on the advice of the Governor/PM, the President invoked Article 234 of the Constitution and suspended the provincial government for 2 months and ordered Governor’s Rule, giving Police Powers to the FC and asking the Army to oversee the law and order. The CM, as usual, was having a holiday, this time in London, where he had gone in government’s executive jet and even after 4 days he did not turn up. The JUI led by ‘maulana’ Fazalur Rehman and PML(N) Leader Mian Nawaz Sharif condemned the Governor’s Rule calling it unconstitutional and undemocratic. The fierce sectarian and ethnic killings of the last five years never drew such firm response from either of them. JUI’s ministers, on hearing from the Governor that the Assembly was ‘intact’, about twelve of them held a session without quorum, condemned Governor’s Rule and condoled the deaths. They were demanding the same dysfunctional PA to be reinstated and an in-house change. The provincial head of the PPP. Mr Sadiq Umrani, however, called the dismissal of Government a Day of Deliverance for the people of Baluchistan. However, 25 Hazaras are still missing as the pulverized remains of many bodies still cannot be identified. Hazaras are now openly naming the activists of sectarian killings as Usman Kurd, Shafiq Rind having nexus with Jundullah (belonging to Seistan-Iran), Al Qaeda, TTP, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Sipah-e-Sahaba and militant Baloch/Brahui. Most of the killers are Baloch/Brahui and belong to Mangocher, Mastung, Dhringar and Spezand areas who are under the protection of the CM Raisani and his Finance Minister Asim Gailoo who are the headmen of these areas.

4. Law and Order Situation, 11- 16 Jan. Three militants surrendered to authorities in Sui on 10 Jan. Six criminals were arrested in Mastung area while five rockets landed in Sui town area. NATO terminal was attacked near Sariab by rockets injuring three persons and destroying 10 oil tankers. Two men were gunned down in Sariab area. A high level meeting announced it would carry out targeted-operations in troubled parts of Balochistan to net the outlaws and secure peace. On 15 Jan, Police raided former PPP minister Ali Madad Jattak’s house in Sariab, Quetta and recovered 35 AK-47 rifles and arrested 7 men. A bomb exploded near a police vehicle in Quetta but no damage was done.

5. Law and Order Situation, 17 – 22 Jan. Three kidnapping attempts were made. The one in Quetta failed while un-known men took away one victim in Quetta and one in Usta area. The Governor visited Hazaras’ to condole the deaths on 10 Jan. Petty crime continues all over the province, especially in Khuzdar, even now. Near Dera Bugti a landmine exploded killing two persons. Brahmdagh Bugti, sitting in Switzerland under protection of MI6 is said to be responsible. Dr. Tahirul Qadri’s march to Islamabad, sit-in and the end has drawn mixed response. Generally, people think he is right when he says that ‘politicians are united in protecting corruption’. Jaffar Mandokhail, a Pashtun MPA has appealed to the Governor that Rs. 15 billion earmarked for bogus schemes that exist only on paper must not be released. Similarly, PKMAP has demanded that action be taken against corrupt ministers. FC has arrested a Police SP, DSP and six policemen belonging to the CID, who had kidnapped a businessman from Dalbandin and were holding him in a Police Station and demanding ransom from his family. CCPO went on TV to confirm the story. Another kidnapped man was recovered from suburbs of Quetta and criminals arrested by FC.

6. Governor’s Rule, 17 – 31 Jan. Governor held a so called Apex-Committee meeting which was attended by Commander Southern Command, IGFC, Army officers, Police Chief and Chief Secretary. Several junior officers holding senior appointments were reverted and those sidelined were given their rightful appointments. Reportedly, former CM Raisani has bought a flat in London, named it Sarawan House, and decided to stay in the UK. Before being CM, he was destitute and known to be making two ends meet by stealing motorcycles and cars with the help of his brothers Lashkari and Siraj. NAB has become active, suddenly and forwarded gross corruption cases against 16 ministers to Chairman NAB for approval, the CM has yet to be investigated. Prominent ministers named by NAB are, Haji Ali Muhammad Jattak, PPP, Babu Imrani, Asfandyar Kakar, ANP, Tahir PPP, JUI’s Ainullah Shams, Haji Nawaz, Zamrak Khan, Asim Gailoo, Salim Khosa and Ihsan Shah. Deposed MPAs made anti-Pakistan statements and threatened Federal government of dire consequences if the PA was not revived. JUI managed a shutter down strike on Friday, 25 Jan. All these ministers hold a session in PA regularly. The Governor is silent and keeps saying the assembly is only ‘suspended’. He is even allowing release of funds. His wife, son, brother and many cousins are MPAs and direct beneficiaries of funds being released. JUI’s ministers regularly take out rallies in Quetta against Governor Rule. Incidentally, they never raised any voice against regular ethnic and sectarian killings in Quetta and Balochistan. Senators Hasil Bezanjo and Jan Jamali former CM have acknowledged improvement in law and order and appreciated Governor-Rule while some Senators especially from JUI, also staged a walkout from the Senate.

7. Law and Order Situation, 22- 31 Jan. FC arrested 9 persons from different places in Quetta involved in crimes. A Sunni imam was killed in Quetta on 23 Jan, possibly by Shias but no one claimed responsibility. A bid to loot a NATO trailer was foiled by FC near Khuzdar on 24 Jan. FC arrested 3 men carrying 250 remote controlled bombs from Chaman on 26 Jan. FC also defused a bomb placed on railway line near Sariab. 5 innocent men were killed in a mine explosion near Dera Bugti on 26 Jan. A mobile phone booster was destroyed by miscreants near Turbat. On 26-27 Pashtun tribes blocked road Quetta-Chaman in protest against kidnappings and looting of trucks and buses. This is the first major indication of deteriorating law and order in Pashtun areas. FC post was also attacked near Kohlu but no loss occurred. Quetta police announced it had netted professional kidnappers. On 29 Jan, two Hazara policemen were gunned down by unknown criminals. A rocket was fired at the District Police officer at Kalat but he was unhurt. 4 bullet riddled bodies were found near Dera Bugti. 3 men were shot dead in Quetta by unknown persons.

Comments

Imposition of Governor Rule, though delayed by several years has brought about a visible change in the state of the law and order in Balochistan. The Governor, due to his feudal background and eagerness to look after the interests of his kith and kin in politics, is not assertive at all. He makes no policy statements, gives no direction and the Chief Secretary is the visible face of government and appears to be the CEO. 12 members of the suspended PA, from the JUI and small parties, keep holding ‘sessions’ and making anti-Pakistan statements. JUI, led by ‘Maulana’ Fazalur Rehman is most aggressive and the reason obviously is the sudden stop of corruption on relinquishing ministerial office. The Governor has allowed these suspended MPAs not only to sit in the Assembly Hall but also released their ‘development’ funds. “Violation of Constitution and Democracy” is being used aggressively as a rationale by the ousted criminals masquerading as MPAs.

The militancy and crime seems to have come down and no one is raising the slogan of “independent Balochistan” any more. The new slogan is “Baloch Rights” and demand for Elections-on-time. Allowing Raisani to remain CM along with his group of criminal ministers was a blatant crime for which Zardari and Gilani must be held accountable. However, letting the same Governor to become the CEO has greatly dampened the impact of the removal of the criminal/corrupt MPAs. His playboy style, vested interests and immediate family being the beneficiary of previous government is not allowing him to take corrective and assertive measures. Whatever is being done seems to be emanating from FC and the CS.

The federal government does not appear inclined towards accountability and there is no indication of anyone being asked to answer for gross corruption and failure. CM Raisani is living comfortably in London now in his new house, with no questions being asked by head of his party, PPP or the PM. Most CM of Balochistan who have left office since 1972 have become obscenely rich. At least three of them live in London and Dubai where they have bought hotels, luxury flats and big houses.

The removal of the CM and his ministers seems to have removed the protection provided by them to sectarian/ethnic killers and criminals. After 10 Jan, except for two minor incidents, no more Shia killings have taken place. The Police and FC keep reporting arrests which did not happen for a long time. Militancy and inter-tribal turf war is continuing. It is expected to grow as the Elections draw near. Balochistan may yet see the worst bloodshed of its 43 years history during Elections particularly if the PA is restored. What needs to be done is to delay elections, in Baluchistan, install a non-political caretaker government for about 3 years to carry out ruthless accountability. If that did not happen, 70-80 % of the present lot will come back and they will be far bolder in looting, misgoverning and selling the province to foreign powers. However, no one other than the Army can accomplish this. Martial law in one province for a short time is entirely constitutional; that would give time and opportunity to carry out structural changes in the province that are direly needed. If that is not done now, the next government in Islamabad would have to do that but after a sustained but avoidable loss of lives.

The SC has one mantra for every sickness: The Constitution! The SC is bogged down with a few cases pertaining to NRO, NAB and social crimes but has totally ignored the strategic picture where national economy is systematically being destroyed. The infrastructure has been severally damaged to accommodate politicians’ family businesses and ‘horse-trading’; pre-election rigging of elections is in full swing. The SC does not care if the Country is destroyed from within as long as the spirit of the Constitution as perceived by the CJ is enforced. The irony is that the SC verdicts and wishes are more often ignored rather than enforced. The lasting impact of such obduracy is to undermine the institutions that continue to function and deliver. The same thieves and criminals will come back to the assemblies using the huge funds which they have looted. The ‘free media’ has clearly been bought up to support the ruling cliques within and their patrons abroad.

The five years long void, indeed terrible-governance, in Balochistan is now having an impact in Pashtun areas also where serious crime is growing alarmingly. However, on the whole, Balochistan is clearly better off with the provincial assembly suspended and clamping of Governor Rule. Even with a very weak Governor the crime has reduced and talk of “seeking Independence” has almost stopped. “Balochistan Issue”, blown out of all proportions and exacerbated by CIA/RAW and Mossad’s conspiracies to destabilize Pakistan, basically needs Good Governance. Baluchistan is neither short of patriots nor competent professionals. The political class will continue to be the main problem until a thorough accountability and political purge takes place which replaces the old guard with well educated youth in place of mullahs and the feudal/tribal scions. It is reiterated that elections in Baluchistan at this time would make a bad situation worse. The Chief Secretary as the CEO unencumbered by politicians is already showing results. Bureaucratic or military rule is not a permanent substitute for political administration. But when the entire political class is evidently corrupt with some eminent politicians openly playing the games of foreign enemies, there is no alternative in Baluchistan. ***