Editorial: Hajira Case Exposes Double Standards of Balochistan Government

Courtesy: Balochistan Point

Hajira is a 13 year old girl from Kharan and who is suffering from acute myeloid leukemia, a type of blood cancer. Treatment of this illness is only possible in Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH). Hajira belongs from an underprivileged family and her patients can’t afford to finance her treatment in AKUH.

The apathy of Dr Malik Baloch and his allies

Courtesy: The Nation

Quetta is the only metropolitan city of Balochistan. People from all around the province visit Quetta for almost everything that is not available in small towns. Passenger buses and mini-wagons are the main source of transportation for people travelling to Quetta. For the last 20 days, transporters in Quetta have been on strike due to a bus stand row. Passengers who don’t have their own conveyance are suffering a great deal of misery. However, Chief Minister of Balochistan, Dr. Malik Baloch and his government are unmoved due to their apathy towards suffering of common people.

Avoid Shifting Of Quetta Bus Stands To Hazar Ganji

Courtesy: The Balochistan Point

Quetta is the capital of Balochistan and the only metropolitan city of the province. People from all corners of Balochistan visit Quetta for official business, treatment in hospitals and shopping. Bus services from all the districts of Balochistan transport passengers to Quetta on daily basis. Buses from Baloch belt are parked at a make-shift bus stand in Musa colony on Sariab Road. Pashtun belt buses are parked at a similar make-shift arrangement on Spiny road. In 1990s, idea of a bus stand out of Quetta city in Hazar Ganji areas was floated. A bus stand was constructed but it failed due to lack of proper connecting transport facilities with Quetta city. Now, again efforts are being made to shift the bus stands of Quetta to Hazar Ganji.

Double standards of CM Balochistan

Courtesy: The Balochistan Point

Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch, Chief Minister (CM) of Balochistan visited flood hit areas in Multan on 17th September. He was greeted by his counterpart in Punjab, Shehbaz Sharif. At the occasion Dr. Malik gave a cheque of Rs. 100 million and 3 truckloads as aid for the flood victims of Punjab. Helping anyone at the time of crisis is a noble thing to do but in this case it reflects double standards and apathy of CM Balochistan towards his own people.

The desperation of National Party

Courtesy: The Balochistan Point

In an act of shear desperation, the ruling National Party (NP) has started a criticism spree against Balochistan National Party (BNP). The recent onslaught of NP in form of newspaper statements against BNP is nothing but a desperate move by desperate group of people. Since taking power, NP has absolutely failed in good governance and they incorrectly believe that they can control their critics by issuing hard hitting statements in newspapers.

Arsalan Iftikhar Fiasco

Courtesy: The Balochistan Point

Finally, the news came; Arsalan Iftikhar resigned from the position of Vice chairman Balochistan investment board. This decision came in the backdrop of mounting pressure on Balochistan government for appointing a controversial person for a sensitive job. The party of chief minister Dr. Malik, National Party, also criticized the appointment of Arsalan Iftikhar. The resignation was not unexpected and it has brought an end to the Arsalan Iftikhar Fiasco. At the same time it has exposed the weakness and failure of Dr. Malik Baloch as chief minister.

Sorry state of Education in Balochistan

Courtesy: Laaltain Magazine

The education sector in Balochistan is in a sorry state while the government is only relying on rhetorical promises about improving the situation.Independent studies carried out about the scale of the problem paint an abysmal picture. 

Redefining the meaning of failure

Courtesy: ViewPoint Online

In every walk of life and every sphere of governance all we can witness is failure. However, the Balochistan provincial government, headed by Chief Minister Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch, has set new benchmarks in failure. 

Government’s Anti-Balochistan Policies

Courtesy: The Baloch Hal

The Dr. Malik-led coalition government comprising of the National Party (NP), PashtunKhwaMAP (PKMAP) and Pakistan Muslim League –Nawaz (PML-N) has failed miserably. They have even crossed the limits of failure of Nawab Raisani government in terms of governance. Now, people of the restive province have lost hope in the government. It will not be unfair to say that the policies of current government of Balochistan are anti-Balochistan. Let’s see how.

Delusion of Autonomy

Courtesy: The Lahore Times

Balochistan has an autonomous government, ruled by a Baloch nationalist. This line is often heard in response whenever someone complains about unjust treatment meted out to people of Balochistan. It is commonly believed that Balochistan government is all powerful and autonomous. In reality it’s just the opposite. Balochistan government cannot exercise the powers vested in it by the 18th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan. Security forces and federally controlled bureaucracy still call the shots in Balochistan and this is now an obvious fact.

A Unique Protest

Courtesy: The Baloch Hal

A unique protest took place outside the National Assembly of Pakistan on 20th January. This protest comprised of members of the Balochistan Assembly and other politicians from the restive province. The primary reason of the protest was the abduction of Nawab Abdul Zahir Kasi, who is chief of the Kasi tribe and the provincial president of the Balochistan chapter of the Awami National Party. Apart from that, this protest was also a manifestation of anger and displeasure over the fact that Balochistan government is still not autonomous and it has to plea Islamabad for almost everything. 

Balochistan Local Bodies Conundrum

Courtesy: The Lahore Times

Balochistan became the first province to conduct local bodies election in Pakistan after change of government in last general elections. Elections were held in Balochistan on 7th December for most constituencies and for remaining ones and the elections of Mayors and District council chairmen will take place in mid-January. These elections passed without any major act of violence by the insurgents. Some analysts and politicians are presenting the holding of these successful elections as sign of betterment in situation of Balochistan. This is absolutely incorrect and anyone aware of the ground realities of Balochistan will never make such a baseless claim. 

Dr. Abdul Malik – A failed experiment

Courtesy: The Lahore Times

General elections of 11th may were a ray of hope for millions of Pakistanis. The dark period of PPP government was finally over and a new government was about to takeover which promised to solve all the problems. Balochistan has been the most turbulent province of Pakistan since 2005, when dictator Musharraf started a military operation. People in Balochistan were also expecting an improvement in their lives after election. They thought that this dream can be achieved when Nawaz Sharif decided to Support Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch, a middle class politician, for the office of chief minister of Balochistan. What transpired after Dr. Malik’s assuming of office has badly disappointed the people of Balochistan. Dr. Malik can simply be classified as a failed experiment.