Pakistan is currently facing protests against the government and different bureaucratic institutions for their unjust policies against the masses of Pakistan. Protests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Raji Machi in Balochistan, and the IPPS in Islamabad, demanding peace, are costing the state more than ever before. The state is being weakened socially, politically and economically due to these unstable circumstances and it does not seem to have the cure for it. Beside all these, the illegitimate current government of Pakistan is fuelling this situation even more against the establishment as the masses believe that the current members of the respected constituent assemblies of the country are not elected by the public instead, they are selected by the establishment and they are not perceived as the doctors of their grievances.
The Raji Machi in Balochistan is a social gathering which was called by the head of the Baloch-Yakjehti-Committee, Mahrang Baloch in Gwadar on 28th of July against the enforced disappearances and unjust policies of the state. They had chosen Gwadar because it is the centre of China Pakistan Economic Corridor and billions of dollars have been invested on this port but the natives still lack basic necessities like water, gas, health security. However, the government of Balochistan does not seem to be happy with the decision of gathering at Gwadar while the second phase of CPEC is just on the brink of starting again, creating different hurdles in its progress, it has also been arresting people and gas shelling to disperse them but somehow, they still managed to join the protest. What has been making them even more frustrated is the constant suppression of their voices by the provincial or federal government without listening to their grievances, which they neither believe to be solved by the state as the state in the past has betrayed them in the name of peaceful talks nor has it tried to tackle them.
Shoaib Baloch who is a student of international relations and relative of the man who was disappeared by the state in 2009 and still hasn’t returned, in his interview, said that we are still in hope that someday he will come back and criticized the law enforcement agencies that if their family members have been involved in any unlawful act, the government should take them to court instead of taking them away. He argued that the judiciary holds the highest authority according to the constitution of Pakistan but the LEAs are dominant enough to not take the judiciary on board.
On the other hand, the government has been accusing the Raji Machi movement of being a foreign funded moment against the development of Baluchistan or Pakistan by damaging the CPEC and further fuel the Baloch movements for independence. One of the sources claimed that the BYC got 50 million rupees for the success of Raji Machi by mobilizing the youth through money. Sarfaraz Bugti, the chief minister of Balochistan has condemned the attacks of BYC members on security personnel injuring 16 of them while one lost his eyes. He invited Mahrung Baloch for negotiations and stated that violent mobs will not be allowed to challenge the writ of the state. Furthermore, he also criticized the foreign media for portraying one sided story.
According to a report by Commission Inquiry on Enforced Disappearance (COIOED), the total number of registered cases of missing persons is 10143 till January 2024, out of which the committee has resolved 7832 cases leaving behind 2311 cases with a success rate of 77%. The resolved cases include those related to road accidents, illegal immigration, or being a part of militant organizations. The government is addressing the issue of missing persons more sensitively and is taking serious measures despite having limited resources. However, depriving the Baloch people of their constitutional right of peaceful protest is increasing frustration among them and taking away the possibility of meaningful dialogue with government officials.
The government’s actions such as restricting the media or the internet in the region, highlights its own frustration. Installation of a fire wall on social media apps to reduce the threat of digital terrorism and 5th generation warfare, which Pakistan is now the focal point for foreign conspiracies specifically from India and Israel. On the other hand, the government does not appear to be resolving the public grievances around the country which shows their inefficiency and policy failures. Instead, they are using violence through different means. Meanwhile, Mahrang is mobilizing the masses of Balochistan with her extraordinary skills and intellect. The government calls it a conspiracy but the people of Balochistan are constantly taking part against the government policies which indicates that the masses will no longer accept the unjust policies of the state.
The government needs to take all necessary measures to solve the public problems even if it involves short-term losses. In the longer run, it may encourage the masses to adopt patriotism and work towards nation building. According to the theory of relative deprivation, Baloch people have felt deprived of their basic rights, resources, and opportunities compared to other provinces of Pakistan. Rafiullah Kakar, a public policy scholar, assesses the effect of the federal model and practice in his recently published research paper on ethnic conflict, including the military’s role on the Baloch ethnic conflict with a special focus on the political scenario post 18th amendment. In his recent writing on twitter (currently known as X), he argued that the government are failing to solve the most pressing issues of Balochistan and suppression will only make the situation worse.
The way forward to it can only be the establishment of truth and reconciliation to address historical injustice, investing more in the infrastructure of Balochistan in different domains like education, health, governance, rule of law and to ensure their inclusivity and representativeness (the real representatives of public) in decision making processes and address the root cause of militancy in the region. By taking these steps, the government of Pakistan can enhance its legitimacy in the eyes of its public instead of promoting the notion that the masses are a part of foreign conspiracies or terrorist groups.
Written by by Farhan Ullah Khan
