Regretfully, with the dismemberment of Pakistan's eastern wing in 1972, we have not learnt any lesson from that national disaster and persist in calling firstly; Balochi, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pushtoon and Pakistani casually.
This attitude, particularly, of Baloch at the present time, has prompted US Republican Congressman Thomas Tancredo writing to President George W. Bush urging him to raise the "issue of Balochistan" with President Pervez Musharraf when he visits Pakistan next month.
In the letter written to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Congressman Tancredo said "it is my understanding that President Bush will be travelling to Pakistan in March". He said "please urge him (President Bush) to raise this "issue" with President Musharraf so that the "dispute" may come to a conclusion and further losses of life may be prevented".
Apparently the Congressman has been misinformed by vested interests in order to defame the present people-friendly government in the eyes of the world fraternity, which is not short of anti-Pakistan campaign, launched by the two former prime ministers sitting abroad.
In order to be properly informed the learned Congressman better visit Pakistan and acquaint himself with the conditions on the ground "as seeing is believing". Present Government is trying hard to take out the majority in Pakistan from the clutches of feudals namely Baloch Sardars, Waderas in Sindh, Chaudhris in Punjab, Maliks/Khwaneens in NWFP.
Out of so many sardars in Balochistan only three, posing themselves to be nationalist/leftist, are opposing the government which has launched mega projects as from year 2000 and spending billions of rupees on highways, sea and airports; many industries in development sector: increasing threefold the existing schools, colleges, hospitals: the empowerment of people from grassroot, 1/3rd representation in provincial assemblies and federal parliament to women.
These developments and changes have scared the sardars who are having their own private militia to terrorise the poor uneducated majority of Balochs; and trying to show that they have the teeth to bite both provincial and federal authority.
In his recent interview President Musharraf said he would welcome the real Balochistan leaders on the table for dialogue and was prepared to redress their reasonable grievances.
If the respected Congressman decides to come, we are sure the Government of Pakistan would welcome him and would not hesitate to show him the real situation obtaining in Balochistan.
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