Among the recent arrivals on the eve of general election from self-imposed exiles there are quite a few big names, but the one that is going to make the difference is Akhtar Mengal's. His decision is consequential to the national politics all the more for he is here even when he finds six-point formula presented to the Supreme Court last year to restore normalcy in his home province unimplemented. Not that he has given up on his stand; he remains committed to it as he describes Balochistan as a "blood-stained" province. But the boycott of general election is not his position anymore. It hasn't taken him more than a day to declare that his party would be taking part in elections. After a marathon deliberative session with the members of his party's central executive he said the BNP-M would be part of the May 11 general election unmindful of what he describes as 'threats from the establishment' and those 'who had filled the vacuum when his party boycotted the previous election'.
His decision to become part of electoral process instead of staying put in the boycott mode, as is the case with some other Baloch nationalists, brings into sharp relief his democratic credentials. Hopefully, the 'establishment' would see to it that his fears are belied. His six-point formula - which calls for an end to all military operations in Balochistan, abolishment of 'death squads', return of missing persons, settlement of displaced persons - is still in the field. Any meaningful progress in its implementation would certainly help restore normalcy in the troubled Balochistan. Mengal's decision to be part of the electoral process is an immensely encouraging development, which should be rendered full support by all segments of our polity including the so-called establishment.
Then there is also a message the BNP-M chief's decision to return home and become part of the democratic endeavour tends to convey to all those who stayed away from the hustings last time. It must bring home to them the realisation that the boycott of 2008 general election was not a viable option for any democratic force for whom vote is the only oxygen to survive and remain relevant to people. Though at present he would be reluctant to advise the Baloch nationalists to come down from the mountains and join electoral race, a decision by a person of Akhtar Mengal's political standing and stature is bound to positively impact their thinking. And no less importantly, The BNP-M's decision is a measure of confidence in the competence and determination of the Election Commission of Pakistan to hold free, fair and transparent election. The truth is that in the evolving ambience of impartial polls in the country - for the first time in many years - no political party would like to miss the bus. The electoral impartiality being a major concern to the BNP-M leadership the ECP chief's assurance one of the party leaders, Agha Hasan Baloch, who attended ECP's meeting with many other 'angry' Baloch leaders in Quetta on Thursday, received must have greatly contributed to party's confidence in relation to its Tuesday's decision to take part in election. Mengal had already conveyed to the Supreme Court his concerns and apprehensions and the same was conveyed to the Chief Election Commissioner.
But the BNP-M decision to participate in election and the hope more would follow suit in Balochistan is only half of the story; the other half is creation of environment peaceful enough for the political parties to be able to reach out to the masses. Law and order situation is nowhere ideal in the country, but in Balochistan it is simply terrible, particularly when general public has to be not only persuaded to be part of electoral process but also to be ensured that it would be risk-free. Nowhere in the country are the forces out to derail election process sitting but in that province they are much more strong and deeply entrenched. Then there is also deep-seated distrust about the 'establishment' among certain sections of people. Hence the need for conceding if not all at least some of the demands made by Akhtar Mengal in his six-point formula. The danger is that the forces that have assiduously worked over the years to create this distrust are far from subdued, and would not spare any opportunity to subvert the electoral process. However, that said, the fact remains that the fundamentals to build on to obtain a healthy working democratic society in Balochistan are there - and decision of the BNP-M to take part in election is going to be a great help in this regard.