While the Baloch nationalist parties took the first important step to return to mainstream politics by deciding to participate in the national elections, the Centre's response to their concerns has been rather slow, if inadequate. The Election Commission facing violence from the militants did little to ensure its offices remained operational in all parts of that troubled province. Meanwhile, leaders of nationalist parties have been expressing grave apprehensions about getting an even-play field.
According to them, they worry less about the militants' threat to disrupt the elections and more about what the establishment might do to impose its own favourites on the Baloch people. BNP-M chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal reiterated his apprehensions on Wednesday saying efforts were under way to keep his party out of the electoral fray. Indirectly pointing a finger at the establishment he urged the government to disarm groups, he said, were trying to prevent party leaders and candidates from visiting their constituencies.
Apparently, it was to allay such apprehensions that CoAS Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani visited Quetta last week, assuring full support to the provincial caretaker government whose main responsibility is to hold free and fair elections. Another important assurance has come from caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso, himself a Baloch, who said in Quetta on Wednesday that his visit is a clear message that the government wants to hold fair elections taking along all the political parties; and that a concerted strategy is being evolved to ensure that all departments concerned remain neutral during the polls. Yet another significant visit to the restive province has been that of PML-N leader Shahzbaz Sharif described by Sardar Mengal as a goodwill gesture, saying such moves would bring political parties close to each other and make them strong to fight undemocratic forces. Sharif also called on the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Senior Vice President of the National Party, Mir Hasil Bizenjo, as well as President of Jamhoori Watan Party, Talal Akbar Bugti.
These overtures must be backed by effective on the ground measures so the nationalists can participate unhindered in the elections. They find themselves caught between the angry insurgents and an establishment, they seem to be convinced, is determined to diminish their chances of success. Sardar Akhtar Mengal who returned from self-exile to participate in the elections, saying his party believed in democratic struggle has had hard time not to step on the wrong side of the militants. Following his speech at a recent public rally where he reportedly asked the insurgents to descend from the mountains and lay down their arms, he felt compelled to offer the explanation that he made no such remarks. Yet if anyone can persuade the militants to give up arms it is the nationalist parties. Only a truly elected leadership of the Baloch people can resolve what essentially is a political problem through political means.