FROM A RINGSIDE SEAT

The subordination of tribalism to nationalism was expected as colonial powers redrew boundaries across the colonised world. However, packets of fierce tribalism are still evident in several parts of the world. Balochistan and parts of NWFP immediately come to mind.
Efforts by successive Pakistani governments to mainstream our tribal belt failed largely because the foundation used for the distribution of wealth was considered 'inequitable' - a feeling that persists to this day. Thence began an era of military engagement with President Musharraf throwing the gauntlet: "you will be hit from where you can't imagine" - heady words from a head of the state.
Our legislators are at great pains to make Musharraf eat his words, possibly a diet that he is over stuffed with these days. House Leader in the Senate Raza Rabbani tendered another apology on behalf of the PPP government to the Baloch people and, in particular, to the erstwhile exiled Senator Sanaullah Baloch and, in true Brutus style, thrice did denounce Musharraf.
A hard-hitting speech was delivered by Sanaullah after more than 18 months in exile, moments before he submitted his still-to-be-accepted resignation. His place of exile was London - a city that has provided sanctuary to several Pakistanis over the years. However, Sanaullah's stint in that city was not quite 'living in the lap of luxury', unlike other members of the elite group known as the PPE (Pakistani political exiles) - be they self imposed exiles or Musharraf imposed exiles.
Lack of trust between what Sana described as the powerful establishment in Islamabad and the Baloch nationalist forces was the crux of the problem. This problem, he maintained, was growing bigger and was threatening the integrity of the country.
"We have eyes. We have ears. We are as capable as anybody else in this country. Trust us. If you don't trust, the Baloch wont trust you either," Sana thundered. A stunning fact was revealed by the once pro-Musharraf loyalist Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, the secretary general of Pakistan Muslim League: some hawkish elements (who remained nameless) within the powerful establishment sabotaged an attempt by a parliamentary committee four years ago to usher an era of peace in Balochistan.
Mushahid's sage advice was to heal the wounds of the largest though extremely volatile province. This, he opined, required not only an apology but also some concrete practical steps. Senator Kamran Murtaza, a Baloch, warned that the Baloch may well begin to desist from participating in Parliament and opt instead to fight in the streets. Balochistan, he thundered, could well become another Bangladesh if the policy of military engagement was not discontinued.
Inject more power into this parliament if we are to save Balochistan, Kamran advised his fellow parliamentarians. Let hawkish elements of the establishment fail. Resolve the problem now or it will be too late, concluding phrase from a lawyer by profession depicted some gravity of the issue.
Karachi-based Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) put its full weight behind calls for adopting a policy of reconciliation in Balochistan. "The time for rhetoric is over. We should act now," advised Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, a legislator from MQM.
The National Assembly focused on Musharraf's local government system and how it had failed to provide good governance at the grass roots level or security. Many recalled the days when Musharraf told the nation that the local government system epitomised devolution of power at the grass roots level - though not as we learnt to our cost at the top of the pyramid - has come tumbling down like a house of cards. But then everything Musharraf did during the eight years of absolute power appears to be suffering from the same fate.