Balochistan still burns

EDITORIAL:DAILY TIMES

There seems to be no end in sight for the ongoing miseries of Balochistan. As has become gruesomely routine now, another bullet-riddled body was found dumped in the Mastung area on Wednesday. As is also the case with most of the corpses discovered in this fashion, evidence of torture was all too visible. This is in spite of the fact that the Chief Justice (CJ) of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is currently holding regular hearings on the situation of missing persons in Balochistan and has not only condemned the atrocities being perpetrated against the Baloch but has also demanded that law enforcement agencies guarantee the life and property of every citizen in the province. The CJ has expressed his serious concern over the deteriorating law and order in the province. It is actually quite amazing the stubborn disregard with which the Supreme Court’s (SC) orders are being met by the powers that be in Balochistan. It is also tragic. Courts exist to take into account any breaking of the law. Their judgements and orders are to be upheld. Those who are behind the forced disappearances and massive human rights violations in the largest province are essentially thumbing their noses at the highest court in the land. And, it seems, there is nothing the SC can do about this beyond a certain point. The provincial and federal governments are following a syndrome of apathy where their lacklustre efforts at following through on serious political dialogue to address the real grievances of the Baloch have seemed little more than a joke. It is largely acknowledged that the security forces and Frontier Corps (FC) are running amok in the province, accused by the Baloch as being behind the kidnappings and murders that have now made their presence felt in the media and political circles, especially after the US Congress took notice of these crimes against humanity. The SC took seriously the missing persons’ case earlier also when Musharraf was president and that, amongst other reasons, got the CJ ousted. Considering this chequered history, it is heartening to see that the SC is once again making it clear that things have gone too far; the SC bench is said to have worked 15 hours straight for this latest hearing. However, no amount of umbrage and dogged pursuit by the SC will be enough to make up for the utter helplessness of the police and government where guaranteeing the safety and security of the Baloch people is concerned. The military/security agencies are unwilling to open themselves up to inquiry. The Balochistan Chief Secretary, Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad, informed the court that the ISI, MI and FC were not ready to cooperate when provided with a list of 62 missing persons. This is just a small reminder of how the people actually in charge in Balochistan care little for ‘small’ issues such as human rights and the welfare of the people. A very real challenge has been thrown up for the SC to rein in and hold accountable those belonging to the security agencies, which after all are answerable to the courts — a point noted by the CJ himself. Balochistan is burning and has been for a long time. The struggle is escalating, with even the country’s highest court railing against cruel injustices. It is time those responsible for causing grief to the Baloch change their policies and end their murderous spree.