Balochistan spending: Government unaware how its Rs170bn were spent

AAJ TV REPORTING

Federal government remains unaware how its recently allocated Rs170 billion to Balochistan were utilized. Briefing the federal cabinet on July 25 this year on Balochistan issues, the Minister for Law and Justice said that although a Commission on missing persons had been formed under the orders of the former Prime Minister and various committees had been set up to tackle other issue, yet no positive outcome had emerged. According to official documents, he said that in recent proceedings on the issue of missing persons, the Chief Justice had categorically expressed his reservations about the role of agencies concerned. The Law Minister informed the Cabinet that under Article 148(3), it was the duty of the Federation to protect each province against external aggression and internal disturbances. Although law and order was a provincial subject, yet the Federal Government could constitutionally facilitate the province under this extreme situation. He said that under Article 149 of the Constitution, the Federation could also give directions to the province, while exercising its authority, for the purpose of preventing a grave menace to the peace or tranquility of the country. However, the federal government had to be careful not to disturb the delicate balance of provincial autonomy, while giving these directions. He added that the federal government could not shirk away from its responsibility of giving suitable directions to the provincial government. The Minister for Science and Technology stressed the need for finding a way forward to the issues of Balochistan and said that the previous meeting of the Prime Minister and deliberations with the provincial government on the issues should also be kept in view. He was of the view that the situation in Balochistan had been compounded because of a lack of inter-agency coordination. An attitude of one-upmanship was affecting the smooth functioning in the provincial affairs, he said. He stated that the provincial government was incapable of handling the issue by itself. The Minister also advised that the development package announced in the past should be implemented. He said that there was confusion regarding the chairmanship of the Cabinet Committee constituted for the purpose, and as a result the committee did not meet at all. The Minister was of the view that water shortage in Balochistan was a serious issue and both Punjab and Sindh needed to address the issue on priority to give the Baloch people their due share. The Minister for Defence described the situation in Balochistan as complex. He stated that too many players were meddling in the provincial affairs, which complicated the matter. Stressing the need for devising a comprehensive policy in consultation with the provincial government, he said that the country could not afford to repeat the past mistakes and the people of Balochistan should not be treated as “children of a lesser God”. The Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan termed the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package and provincial autonomy granted under the 18th Amendment unprecedented reforms carried out by the government. He said that the situation was deteriorating despite the increase in allocation of financial resources, provision of many jobs and job quota increase. There was evidently no writ of the provincial or the Federal Government. The Minister proposed the following measures: A Special Cabinet meeting should be called to discuss Balochistan problems soon which should include all stakeholders. An All Parties Conference should be called and a Special Committee should be created on Balochistan affairs. The Minister for Overseas Pakistanis declared that national security is in a critical state. A consensus of all national parties to find a way forward was imperative, as it was beyond the scope of a single party to provide solutions to issues concerning Balochistan. Some tough choices, he said, should be made if “we have to save the country from insecurity”. The Minister was of the view that if the so-called nationalist/separatists parties boycotted the upcoming elections, it would send a wrong signal. He called for the holding of a Round Table Conference and strong economic reforms to counter threats to national security. External threat, he said, to the region could not be ruled out, as was obvious after recent border skirmishes on the Afghan border. A strategy should be worked out which should include intelligence agencies operating in the province. The Minister said that due rights to the province should be given. He felt that there was a need to revisit autonomy for Balochistan, with a new paradigm on development, on the pattern of the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package. The Deputy Prime Minister/ Senior Minister for Industries reminded Cabinet members that the government’s focus had been primarily on energy and Balochistan issues. He was of the view that the Balochistan package was a comprehensive one. However, its implementation had been an issue, he said. Balochistan, he said, could not be viewed as a uni-dimensional issue. Instead, he said, there was a need for complete understanding, adding that implementation on the Balochistan package was critical. He was also against sending a message from the Cabinet’s platform which would further complicate matters. The Minister for Benazir Income Support Programme informed the Cabinet members of the utility of the programme, owing to its out-reach to the poor and under privileged segment of the society indeed. She stated that as a result of the interaction with the citizens, civil society, social welfare organisations etc, almost 100,000 Balochi women had made NICs, which was unprecedented and a major step towards emancipation of women. Over 500 youths had been given employment. A significant change is being brought about. The Minister stated that the people of Balochistan always respected the efforts of the federal government made for their benefit. She was of the view that although much more needs to be done yet we should view the glass as half full not half empty. The Minister for Safron focused his views, on angry Baloch Sardars sitting in exile and felt that they should be pacified through efforts of the pro-government Sardars. He stated that the situation in Balochistan was not a simple law and order issue but a full fledged insurgency that is spreading. The Minister for Information and Broadcasting stated that it would be embarrassing for the government, if in the ongoing proceedings of the Supreme Court on missing persons, the Court gives a ruling that the Federal Government has failed to perform. The Minister was in favour of 2- 3 members Coordination Committee sitting alongwith the military leadership under the Prime Minister to resolve the matters. He was against big forums deliberating such issues. Adviser to the Prime Minister on Petroleum and Natural Resources stated that the Balochistan issue needed a political, not an economic solution only. The Minister for Law and Justice felt the need for a legal-cum-political program. He was of the view that a sub-committee should be created to report on the reasons, ways and means, to resolve the issue which should be presented in a Special Meeting of the Cabinet. The focus on the report should also be on missing persons, the Supreme Court pronouncements and the dialogue with the dissident Sardars. Recalling the Balochistan crisis in the 70s, the Minister for Political Affairs stated that although the then government under Prime Minister Zulfikar All Bhutto in 1977, had worked out a solution along with the Opposition, General Ziaul Haq stalled its implementation and was thus responsible for the crisis. The current army leadership should be taken on board to find out the solution. The Minister for Defence Production stated that the federal government’s direct intervention might not be appropriate. A profile committee should be made to talk to the dissident elements. A committee under Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain had made certain recommendations, which should be kept in view. The Minister for Postal Services viewed that priority should be given to talking with dissident Sardars. He stated that previously, Balochistan was allocated Rs52 billion and as a result of NFC Award, Rs118 billion had been given, but no one knew where the money was spent.