Comprehensive review of NAP

Balochistan report card

Shahzada Zulfiqar

Shahzada Zulfiqar is a senior journalist based in Quetta, with a deep understanding of politics in .

he Balochistan-specific point calls Stern action T for undertaking “the process of reconciliation” – with disgruntled The stern action includes a broad Baloch. In addition, many other range of issues: military operation points have direct bearing on against militants; extradition of self- Balochistan, like of registering exiled Baloch leaders from western madrassas and ending private countries; and confiscation of their all militias. moveable and immovable properties to choke financing to their outfits, As with other provinces, NAP is already banned. reviewed at an apex committee, comprising province’s top civilian Besides these, federal agencies like and military officials of the province. Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), The committee met once under the Customs, National Accountability Prime Minster and twice under the Bureau, and Police have been chairpersonship of Chief Minister Dr. directed to investigate into the Malik Baloch. funding of terrorists. Hawala operators, working under the garb of So far, six convicted persons have money-exchange business, are also been sent to the gallows. A single interrogated, their tehsil records are military court is already working in scrutinized and their property details Balochistan, following NAP. obtained. Balochistan’s home department has sent 53 cases to the interior ministry, In the cyber domain, the government over a two dozen of which have been has already blocked pro-separatist sent to the military court. websites, blogs and Facebook accounts. In February 2014, apex committee met under Prime Minister Nawaz Army was involved in Sharif, with Army Chief General military operation in the districts Raheel Sharif as participant, drawing infested with the insurgency while a roadmap of implementing NAP. Frontier Corps Balochistan, a paramilitary force, accelerated the The meeting, because of being pace of already-launched overwhelmed by the military high “information based operations” in ups, approved for stern action the province. against militants and their leaders, calling for negotiation with only The Frontier Corps claims to have those having no involvement in acts killed hundreds of activists and of sabotage and terrorism. dozens of commanders of banned organizations and arrested many more.

Comprehensive review of NAP

One of those it has been following is Reconciliation Dr. Allah Nazar, head of Baloch Liberation Front. Dr. Nazar is the Ever since coming into power in only commander who leads his 2013, Prime Minister Sharif has been group on ground, compared to advocated for giving reconciliation leaders who live abroad. Unlike other efforts a chance. Sharif’s desire has Baloch insurgent groups, BLF also been of bringing on negotiating table draws significant support from all angry Baloch leaders – whether middle-class – Allah Nazar himself is fighting against the state or not, a medical specialist. whether sitting inside the country or living in self-exile. The government and military high- ups think that the on-going Even the National Action Plan calls 5thBaloch insurgency is coming to an upon the provincial government to end in Balochistan. And that there pursue reconciliation process in will be no dissent voice, if Dr. Allah Balochistan. Nazar is killed. But the February 2015 apex meeting On June 29th, 2015, on a tip of about called for negotiations with only the presence of most wanted man Dr. those who have not taken arms Allah Nazar, head of Baloch against the state. Similarly, in June, Liberation Front, a leading insurgent an apex committee, headed by Chief group, the army conducted an Minister Malik Baloch, promised operation in Awaran district and general amnesty for all those who killed his brother and two nephews forsake arms against the state. along with other six villagers. However, the news about the According to this policy, one million presence of BLF commander proved rupees will be awarded for an wrong. ordinary fighter entering mainstream, one-and-a-half million Political observers in the province for a local commander, and two also argue that the government needs million for area commander, and to improve the law and order in the more for others as per to their status, province by crushing the on-going besides promising them government separatist movement for paving the job and security for them and their way for mega projects like families. operationalizing port and laying down China-Pakistan Moreover, pro-government tribal Economic Corridor (CPEC). sardars like Nawab Sanaullah Zehri; Nawab Chagaiz Marri, son of separatist late ; and Sardar Sarfaraz Domki,

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Balochistan report card grandson of late Nawab Balochistan: on one hand, the forces played their due role in persuading are killing Baloch youth through the the outlaws to surrender before the ‘kill-and-dump policy’ or military law. operations; on the other hand, government offers reconciliation.1 Over one hundred fighters, including six commanders, have publicly Such dichotomies continue to raise surrendered from Awaran, Lahri and head in provincial government’s Kohlu. other reconciliation efforts.

One such commander is In the holy month of Ramadan, Chief Obaidullahalia Babrak, a BLF fighter Minister directed a delegation in Awaran. At the time of surrender, comprising provincial ministers and he moved to provincial capital parliamentarians-cum-tribal elders Quetta. Within a few weeks of his of ruling National Party went to surrender, in July, he complained in London to meet self-exiled Khan of a press conference that the Kalat, Mir Suleman Daud, urging government hasn’t fulfilled any of him to return home for filling the the promise announced under tribal vacuum created in his absence. general amnesty. (The government argues there might be some Mir Suleman sits at the top of Baloch misunderstanding.) tribal hierarchy. His grandfather Mir Ahmad Yar Khan signed Instrument While the government takes such of Accession with country’s founder surrenders as game changer, Baloch Quaid-e-Azam, legalizing nationalist groups have little faith in Balochistan’s union with new state of these tried-and-tested measures. Pakistan. Although Mir Suleman They have been tried in the past too, doesn’t have influence over they argue, adding that such separatist outfits, he symbolizes measures aim at buying loyalties of tribal society. In 2006, in the the armed activists through money aftermath of the assassination of instead of addressing their genuine prominent Baloch politician Akbar issues. Despite surrenders made by Bugti in a military operation, Mir some of their commanders and Suleman left Pakistan. members, separatist groups have rejected the amnesty offer, vowing to At that time, he also conveyed a tribal continue fighting till independence. jirga in Kalat, the only tribal jirga ever to be convened in the last century. Baloch nationalists point towards That grand jirga, comprising 85 dichotomy in dealing with chieftains and over 300 elders from

1 The word “kill and dump” is a common term used by nationalists.

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Comprehensive review of NAP all over country and other walks of Pressing issues life, gave Khan the mandate to approach International Court of Some of the issues from Balochistan Justice against Pakistan for its failure are worth looking into, as they to abide by the Instrument of directly relate with NAP’s other Accession reached by his points: grandfather. Winning over Khan will weaken the cause of separatists. One, when it comes to religious- inspired militancy, the basis of NAP, When a delegation from Pakistan despite killings of top-notch went to see him in 2015, Khan put militants, a lot needs to be done. before them some conditions such as recovery of Baloch missing persons Following NAP, security forces killed and putting an end to the on-going top sectarian men like Usman military operations in Balochistan, Saifullah Kurd and Mahmood Kurd the so-called kill and dump policy, alias Wadeed, masterminds of and the trample-down of the sanctity deadly suicide attacks, killing of 'chaddar and chardevari' hundreds of Shia Muslim in (household). Balochistan Balochistan and Sindh. Similarly, in government is unable to meet the August 2015, an important conditions of Khan. commander of Al-Qaeda's Umar Lateef was killed in Chaghi area As of now, Chief Minister Malik bordering neighbouring Baloch may lead another delegation Afghanistan, while his wife Tayyaba to London for another round of talks who is said to be head of women with Khan of Kalat. To make Khan wing was arrested. Meanwhile, in flexible in his conditions, the new Punjab, head of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi delegation will offer some special along with his accomplices was perks and privileges to the Khan, if killed. That much is positive. he returns. After these killings, one can expect Meanwhile, Nawab Sanaullah Zahri, from security agencies to bring such a senior minister and provincial head heinous elements in Balochistan to of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, justice. There is a desire from the in his separate plan of reconciliation, people that the forces need to move is also trying his best to persuade against banned outfits, which often Khan of Kalat into returning home. wear political faces publicly in Quite likely, Mr. Zehri will be sworn Balochistan. in as the new chief minister, under an agreement reached between different Security forces have also raided on parties in Murree after 2013 elections. the shops in Quetta and other

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Balochistan report card districts and confiscated a dozen of robbery, rape, car snatching and books with hate material. abduction for ransom.

On the other hand, no action has been Officials said that they have come taken against the sectarian-infested across enough evidence against one madrassas. Shafiq Mengal, head of a government-backed militia, of According to a report of Home harbouring sectarian and Pakistani Department, 2,441 seminaries have Taliban militants. These militants been registered. Still, it is believed, have also attacked Levy personnel, around a thousand madrassas are yet killed eight. A case has also been to be registered in the far flung areas registered against Shafiq, but he lives of the province. with impunity in his ancestral town of Wadh in Khuzdar district. Two, contrary to the claims of the officials, some government-backed Sardar Akhtar Mengal, the head of private militias still operate across Balochistan National Party, which the province. Many Baloch believes in parliamentary struggle, nationalists believe these militias are has been a harsh critic of intelligence controlled by the pro-government agencies for erecting private militias notables, against separatist groups. against him and his party.

The government-backed militias Three, another major issue Baloch have also been accused of population is confronted with is the persecuting religious minorities, illegal registration of millions of particularly Hindus, during the past Afghan refugees as Pakistani 15 years of insurgency. Hindu nationals and as voters. Baloch traders in restive districts nationalists, including Dr. Malik, are particularly Khuzdar, Kalat and opposing the next census to be Mastung were being forced to pay conducted in 2016 on the grounds of bhatha (extortion) to these private the presence of Afghan refugee, militias. They are intimidated against estimated to be two-and-an half any protest publicly over forced million in Balochistan. conversion in the cases. Hundreds of Hindu families have forcibly Except for the ruling National Party, migrated to India or neighbouring no Baloch party is in the favour of Sindh province. Curbing such groups making Gwadar port operational and will automatically improve the status constructing the China-Pakistan of religious minorities, as called by Economic Corridor. Baloch parties NAP. call for addressing their reservations of the projects, which, they fear, will The activists of these militias have turn the Baloch population into a been involved in crimes like highway minority in their own land.

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Comprehensive review of NAP

The military high-ups in apex committee meetings have assured provincial government to inform its concerns to their top brass and federal government. Pashtun parties, often symbolized by the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), reject these reservations.

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