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Target killing in Balochistan is forcing many non-Baloch to flee
By Muhammad Ejaz Khan
After an alarming increase in the number of target killing incidents, including those targeting the police personnel, Balochistan's provincial government finally decided to call paramilitary force i.e. the Frontier Corps (FC) to re-establish government's writ and maintain peace in the province.
Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani declared last Wednesday that the FC would remain deployed in Quetta as long as the law and order situation is restored to the government's satisfaction. It is also believed that since the deployment of FC and the transfer of Inspector General Police Asif Nawaz, the number of these incidents has reduced in Quetta and its suburbs.
Most of the victims of these target killings are Hazaras and Punjabis. For instance, in Quetta and other Baloch-dominated areas of Balochistan, Punjabi barbers were the major victims. Recently, however, some teachers of Punjabi origin, including high-scaled educationists and three principals were also killed, further raising the sense of insecurity among the settlers of other communities in Pakistan's largest province.
The Punjabi settlers have a century-old connection with the province. According to Rai Bahadur Hattura's Tareekh-e-Balochistan they first came here during the colonial period in 1878 for the construction and development of the region, especially the Quetta valley, by the British. It was the same time when the British were building Quetta as a cantonment city. The Punjabis who came with them literally built up the contours of the city including the Railway Station, the cantonment area and the main official buildings of the provincial capital besides laying down the rail network throughout Balochistan -- from Quetta to Chaman, Quetta to Mirjawah and Quetta to Sibbi.
However, the present non-Baloch dwellers of Balochistan don't feel safe in the province mainly due to the increasing incidents of target killings. Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo of the National Party believes that since Punjabis have been living in Balochistan even before Pakistan came into being, they are as much a part of the province as any other community. If they are forced out of it, he believes, it wouldn't be good for the province itself. He also condemns the killings, saying his party is against all kinds of target killings including religious and ethnic. He opposed the recent spate of murders of teachers in Quetta, Khuzdar and the rest of the province.
People from different parts of Punjab such as Gujranwala, Gujrat, Jhelum, Faisalabad and Lahore came to Balochistan which offers a good number of employment opportunities. But now the value of real estate, especially of Punjabi-dominated areas, has fallen since they are selling off their property and moving out of the insurgency-hit province.
Shaikh Omar Hayat, a settler, says he has spent his "life in this province. My family cemetery is here. I have grown up in this city and love it from the core of my heart. It would be very painful for me to leave the city where I have spent all my productive and professional years. I would give my life but not leave the city."
The issue was also raised at the floor of the provincial assembly in its last session. The House was told that the Punjabi community is facing a dilemma where neither Balochistan not Punjab is willing to accept them. It has been learnt that several thousand government servants in different departments have tendered their requests for transfer to other provinces. In the University of Balochistan alone, over 130 non-local educationists are looking for NOCs from other provinces to relocate themselves in the same capacities. However, the university administration has banned the issuance of NOCs to keep their staff from leaving the institution.
A non-local teacher of the University of Balochistan, on condition of anonymity, told TNS that if professors and professionals who hail from other provinces are not protected or they are forced to leave (Balochistan), many important institutions in the province will remain stagnant. "Teachers serve the humanity regardless of their religious, national, linguistic and racial affiliations. They should be protected and given respect if a society is to progress."
According to the police records, in all the 201 heinous crimes reported from different parts of the province from January 1 till May 21, 2009, 156 people, including 22 policemen, were killed and 392 injured. In the reported 32 incidents, the police was targeted, killing 22 personnel and injuring 25 others. In different terrorist incidents, 16 personnel of the Frontier Corps (FC) were killed and 95 others injured while 32 settlers lost their lives with 41 others injured. Moreover, in different incidents of sectarian violence, 25 people were killed while nine were injured. In other incidents, 60 people were killed and 219 injured in different parts of the province.
Sana Baloch of Balochistan National Party (BNP) points out different reasons behind these killings. "One is the flaws in security system and the other is the presence of a large number of immigrants in Quetta."
He is of the view that no struggle can be successful in which the unarmed individuals are targeted.