Balochistan schools abandon national anthem
A nationalist legislator stunned the Senate on Wednesday when he
revealed that the national anthem was no more in vogue in the
Balochistan schools, following the killing of three Baloch
leaders.The National Party lawmaker, Mir Hasil Bizenjo, made this
revelation while participating in the debate on the presidential
address to the joint sitting of parliament’s two chambers on March
28. He called for the implementation of the recommendations made by
the sub-committee, headed by Wasim Sajjad, and contested Interior
Minister Rehman Malik’s claim that since the coalition government
took over last year, no military operation was under way in
Balochistan.(Topix report)
Independent Balochistan is nonesene, Hasil Bezanjo
Interview by Malik Siraj Akbar
An outspoken Mir Hasil Khan Bizanjo is central secretary general of
his father Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo’s National Party (NP). The National
Party was generally considered anti-sardari and has elements from
the educated middle-class of Balochistan. It also believes, unlike
others, in a federal system. However, recent developments in
Balochistan have brought the NP closer to elements that are openly
opposed to Islamabad. TFT spoke to Bizenjo about the current
situation in Balochistan. Excerpts:
The Friday Times: How do you view BNP’s (Balochistan National Party)
decision to resign from the assemblies?
Hasil Khan Bizenjo: We never imagined that this government would go
to the extent of committing a blunder like killing an elderly,
handicapped man who could not even walk without someone’s help.
Nawab Bugti’s death has completely changed the face of politics in
Balochistan. But this should not surprise anyone; this army didn’t
spare the Bengalis nor would it the Baloch. It has always killed its
own people. General Musharraf’s militaristic approach towards
political problems has disappointed all democratic forces in the
country. We, the Baloch leaders, Alliance for the Restoration of
Democracy and Pakistan’s Oppressed Nations Movement (PONM) have made
up our mind to sit and jointly decide whether or not to quit the
assemblies. But the BNP made its own decision; it didn’t consult any
of the opposition parties.
Do you think it was a right move?
No. As democratic forces, we need to continue our democratic
struggle. What does it mean to quit parliament? Where else can we
raise our voice if not in the assemblies? I think we don’t need to
act in frustration. Politics requires strong nerves to face the hard
times. I am convinced that we need to sit in the assemblies to
continue our struggle.
Are you saying that you won’t quit the assemblies at any cost?
No, I didn’t say that. As I told you earlier, NP does not make any
decisions without keeping in view the ground realities. We admit
that ours, like other Baloch parties, is a small party. The major
role in pushing the army back to the barracks can only be played if
the Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Muslim League-N join hands
with us and quit the assemblies. We need their cooperation. We are
in contact with them. If they all decide to quit, that will have an
impact. Otherwise, NP’s five seats in the provincial assemblies will
not change the status quo.
What if these parties refuse to join hands with you?
Well, frankly speaking, we refuse to take a solo flight. We won’t
make the kind of decision the BNP did. We are democratic people. We
won’t climb mountains. We are not against Pakistan. The struggle the
NP believes in is not that of an armed struggle; our struggle will
revolve around the 1973 Constitution. We want greater autonomy, not
self-determination.
Do you oppose the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)?
No. We support them because they are also fighting for the ‘Baloch
cause’. But we will not join them. They are fighting on their
[armed] front and we are fighting on our democratic front. What is
Rauf Mengal or Akbar Mengal’s positions after resigning? Yesterday,
they could speak for Baloch rights when they were in the assemblies
but today they can’t even do that. It was foolish of them not to
take other opposition parties in confidence before taking this step.
What is NP’s take on the treatment being meted out to Punjabi
settlers in Balochistan in the aftermath of Bugti’s killing?
Targeting Punjabis’ houses and property is only going to be
counter-productive for Baloch leadership and people. I am not very
pleased with how some people have been exploiting this situation and
undertaking subversive activities. If this continues, we will be the
greatest losers. The ordinary Punjabi has done nothing wrong to the
people of Balochistan. I think our common enemy is the army. We
should fight the army instead of battling poor settlers.
Some say the National Party has always been a pro-establishment
party and a deal is currently being struck between it and the
government. Even Balochistan Governor told TFT that NP was the real
party. So it seems that the government has a soft corner for your
party.
If we were pro-establishment, we would be enjoying ministries today.
We have never compromised on Baloch rights and interests. The best
thing about NP is that it is not an extremist party. We don’t
believe in going to extreme levels. We believe in realism; in doing
all that we can. It is not possible for us to fool our people by
promising them an Independent Balochistan . That is nonsense. Our
ground realities and current position do not allow us to dream such
things. As for the Governor’s remarks, I think he just wants to
prove himself another Robert Sandeman. He is trying to defame our
party and create misunderstandings between NP and other Baloch
parties. He has been sent here to kill the people of Balochistan. He
has been acting on a murderous agenda. We have no problems with him
being an ‘imported governor’ because he is the representative of the
federal government. The problem is the agenda he is working on. He
has paved the way for a military operation in the province.
What will be the impact of Bugti’s death on the future of
Balochistan’s politics?
I believe Bugti’s death has given blood to the Baloch national
struggle. When we look at Baloch history, there have been four
leading politicians: Mir Ghose Bakhsh Bizenjo, Sardar Attaullah
Mengal, Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri and Nawab Bugti. Bugti can be
ranked as the fourth among his three contemporaries. As a matter of
fact, he was not a very popular leader in Balochistan because he
kept changing his loyalties; he also never said he was a Baloch
nationalist. But now his killing has made him a hero. Bugti’s death
has once again triggered anti-military feelings in the hearts of the
Baloch. This hatred is going to have long-term negative
repercussions.
Friday times November 22, 2006
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