Opposition nationalist senators on Thursday called for pullout of the army from Dera Bugti and Sui area prior to dialogue with the government on the Balochistan situation. The senators singled out the Centre's utter disregard to the Constitution and the law for deep-rooted sense of deprivation among the people of the province. They also blamed the dictatorial era, which "dominated the country's politics."
The crux of their speeches was that the air of what they termed coercion and intimidation should fizzle out, enabling the provincial elders to hold dialogue with the government on resolution of the crisis.
The senators warned that Pakistan could face USSR or Yugoslavia-like fate, if provincial autonomy was denied to the smaller provinces any more.
Referring to the recent developments, they feared that under a conspiracy, the identity of the local people was being done away with, and Balochistan resources taken away, negating the very concept of a federation.
"The Centre should retain only the foreign affairs, finance, defence and strategic communication and the rest of the subjects be transferred to the provinces."
The chair hardly interrupted any speaker till he finished his speech, indicating the treasury had no problem in facilitating the opposition senators to give vent to their sentiments.
By and large, the treasury and the opposition members remained attentive to the speeches, which contained both substance and logic.
The senators demanded arrest of the actual culprit of the lady doctor's gang rape, who they alleged was an army captain and deliberately not being taken to task.
"If someone, whosoever he was, was named in the gang-rape incident, he must have been probed and set free if proved innocent, but this unfortunately was not done. This should have somewhat satisfied the angry Baloch people," they lamented.
The nationalist senators came down heavily on the Frontier Corps and the Coast Guards, alleging they treated the people like a subhuman.
They ruled out the possibility of any improvement in the given situation, if the army, the Frontier Constabulary and the other forces kept deployed across Balochistan.
Balochistan National Party (Mengal) Senator Sanaullah Baloch, in his speech, punctuated with the constitutional articles, the province's history, said that the crisis could be resolved by according due respect to the Constitution and the Parliament.
"With the roaring of a tank, or hurling a fist in the air, the people of Balochistan, who want their fundamental rights and equal treatment with other Pakistanis, can't be browbeaten," he maintained.
Senator Sanaullah contended that the flagrant flouting of the Constitution, erosion of the Parliament's sovereignty and the continuous usurpation of Balochistan's resources had caused stark sense of alienation and deprivation among the Baloch people.
"Military regimes flourished on subjugating the people of Balochistan," he charged.
The senator said that all the veteran nationalist leaders who had been to the assemblies, always called for the rule of law and according equal treatment to all the federating units.
He claimed that Balochistan was subjected to military actions four times and never allowed to use its own natural wealth. "The share of Balochistan in gas consumption is 2 percent whereas, it produces 40 percent of total natural gas," he pointed out.
Likewise, Sanaullah said Balochistan's share in power consumption was a mere 0.5 percent while Punjab's 63 percent, which reflected the state of affairs in the most backward province.
The BNP senator made it clear that true to their centuries-old tradition, the people of the province would never give in to any pressure and continue their struggle for honourable living.
"We believe in peaceful settlement of issues. But if pushed to the wall, we will die but never compromise on our principles," the senator declared.
Senator Aslam Buledi of Balochistan National Movement (Hayee) said that the prevailing crisis in the province was a result of the 57-year unilateral policies of the Centre towards the province.
He dispelled the impression that the tribal elders were opposed to the progress and well-being, saying it was Islamabad that impeded all roads to development in Balochistan.
The Mirani dam, the BNM senator said, was being built for new housing societies in Gwadar and elsewhere in the province. He challenged the government that it was not designed for irrigation purpose.
The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal Senator Rehmatullah Kakar cautioned against a military operation, saying such an option in 1971 had resulted in the making of Bangladesh.
He questioned the security agencies for presenting 'all is well report' to the nation and said the chain of attacks on important installations was not a good omen.
"Even today, a common Baloch, Pushtoon, Punjabi is leading a miserable life, no potable water, no access to road or a hospital," he said.
The senator proposed that the President, Prime Minister and the ruling party President should take the opposition into confidence on their policy towards Balochistan before it was too late.
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