Dear Readers,

In Pakistan one can never have a dull moment, if it is not Darell Hair cheating us out of a cricket test victory, the Balochistan crisis has been thrust upon us because of the demise of Akbar Bugti. Ostensibly the late Baloch leader died because of action by the Pakistan Army, that may be true but not in the literal sense, it seems that he took his own life (and that of some of the officers of the Army’s elite SSG) by setting off an explosive within the cave he was hiding in. While the whole matter could have been better handled, the Baloch reaction was to be expected. There is deprivation in Balochistan, the tragedy is that it is far more at the hands of the Sardars than anyone else. Moreover, it is increasingly clear Akbar Bugti was betrayed by the Marris. How is it possible that he was holed out only with a small Bugti escort in the middle of the Marri area for months and that not a single Marri was around? And which self-respecting guerilla will give away his position by firing on an aircraft (in this case a helicopter) on a routine flight? The Marris seem to have got their own back for 1973 when he instigated the Army action against them as Governor Balochistan, in a dual ploy they also created a “Baloch martyr” at the hands of the Pakistan Army. Once the emotions die down, people are quite capable of putting two and two together. Will Bugti’s heirs accept this? Hopefully it will not set off another blood fired between the two tribes who are not friends even at the best of times. To go back to the Australian – born “England – settled” (by his own statement for a better quality of life) Darell Hair, leaving aside the fact of his being involved in many incidents against Pakistan, why was he made umpire on any match involving England, his chosen country. The real villain of the piece is Malcolm Speed, the ICC President, whose bias is so obvious it can be cut with a knife. Speed had not one word of sympathy for Pakistan, the PCB or the Pakistan team, but his feelings gushed out repeatedly for fellow Australian Darell Hair. And he has the effrontery to tell Inzamam (the PCB and the Pakistan team) to “shut up”! If Pakistan really has good lawyers, Malcolm Speed shall be made to speed away from his present lucrative post. One wishes cricket was as important as our present crisis, for the benefit of readers I am re-producing my article “POST - AKBAR BUGTI”.

It was always on the cards that the Govt of Pakistan (GOP) would mishandle the situation arising out of the death of Akbar Bugti. When the Head of State is dependant upon advice of moderate quality on matters of critical importance, he will not have the counsel he should have access to in a national crisis. Sycophancy is an art perfected over the centuries around rulers who, as their stay in office increases, become averse to hearing anything other than “successes”, messengers (including friends) bringing bad news being usually banished from sight. GOP has blundered into a crisis of national magnitude, turning it into a situation of potential disaster for the country, quite possibly equaling 1971. If someone thinks heads will roll in the wake of this extended ineptitude, he (or she) is mistaken, we are immersed in a “feel good” governance mode that will have the inner circle taking us into greater blunders at the cost of the existence of whatever remains of this nation.

Given to stubbornness and indeed revelling in it, Bugti was an out and out tyrant. His well-documented terrorism had become a threat to economic Pakistan, in death he has become a threat to political Pakistan. The leader of his tribe, a former Governor and a former CM, on the national stage he cast a giant (if disruptive) shadow. Notwithstanding open armed rebellion, the manner of his death was courageous, the brave must be given their due according to the adage, “honour while you strike him down, the foe that comes with fearless eyes!”. GOP has handled another anti-hero maturely, the “AQ Khan – method” could have possibly have been applied to Bugti, the pragmatism inherent adapted to suit the circumstances and the person. There is life in Balochistan after the death of Akbar Bugti, aggrieved and defiant it exists, that is the life the rulers of Pakistan, present and future, have not only to contend but to deal with. The feelings of the Baloch in the streets has been expressed, convincingly on display it is now being exploited by the motivated in the drawing rooms.

Riding off into the sunset of his own choice, as controversial in death as he was in life, proud and arrogant Akbar Bugti would have been contemptuous of those protesting. There is a profound mystery here, to avoid the hideout being discovered guerillas will never fire on helicopters (or other aircraft) passing overhead. Why were the helicopters on routine flight were fired at giving away Bugti’s location, as well the one that came later to locate the source of heavy firing? The tragedy is that Akbar Bugti was invited to the “safe area” by the Marris and promised due protection, the lack of more Bugtis around their Nawab meant a Marri force must have been in the vicinity. How come not a single Marri died in the action in an area deep within Marri territory? The only logic is that Akbar Bugti seems to have been callously betrayed by the Marris. The Marris not only got their revenge of 1973 when he targetted them as Governor but cynically set him up as a “Baloch martyr” for their own purpose. One feels genuinely sorry that this brave man went astray the way he did and was betrayed in this manner. How come Khair Baksh Marri or Ataullah Mengal and/or their sons have never fought in the mountains but have others do their fighting?

The men in Khaki gave a giant sacrifice in accomplishing the mission assigned to them, putting down on armed revolt that threatened the economic lifeline of the nation. Pro-rata militarily the armed insurrection in North and South Waziristan is many times more potent than militancy in Bugti and Marri areas, the critical importance of the Sui plant made the Bugti rebellion take on a seriousness far beyond its actual measure. Pakistan’s economic survival depends upon constant supply of gas to its power stations, to industrial homes and to roughly about 15-20 million homes to kitchens in both urban and rural areas. If the gas supply is interrupted, the economic (and socio-political) consequences are unimaginable.

If MMA goes ahead with their threat to walk out of the coalition in Balochistan, it may be a God-sent opportunity for the Federal Government to set things right in the Province on a permanent basis. Governor’s Rule for at least a year and all political factions taken into confidence and given full representation in the interim administration, from all districts without exception. Development effort on a war footing must comprise education, health, roads, etc as well as the whole spectrum of socio-economic projects already in the works. Notwithstanding protests about the demise of Akbar Bugti, the wider resentment is against the perceived socio-economic deprivation of the Baloch.

With sincerity of intent and purpose it is possible to salve wounds by buying the way back into Baloch hearts and minds, only if the security situation is guaranteed. Prime responsibility must be that of the police backed by the Frontier Corps (FC). Maximum number of Bugtis and Marris tribals who have surrendered can be inducted (after due screening) into FC Balochistan, making a Bugti FC Wing and a Marri FC Wing. With tribals getting well-paid jobs close to their homes, who can better keep the peace than those who know the area like the back of their hands? A package is being successfully implemented in Kohlu, enlarge the scope and increase the pace! They must be given free homes in new townships with free electricity, gas and running water. With free education and medical facilities for a ten (or even 20) year period, the tribals will have a vested economic interest in securing their health and home, their reliance on the fickle largesse of despots will be eliminated.

The lines must be very clearly drawn as far as Khair Baksh Marri and Ataullah Mengal are concerned. Appeasement would be a counter-productive policy, their private militias must be disarmed forthwith. GOP should not make the mistake of holding back against these two tribal Chiefs (and their immediate families) who show any sign of rebellion against the country. There will be no progress in Balochistan as long as these two Sardars and their families remain in place to send others to their death, Bugti included! One can have no doubt the Marris have callously betrayed Nawab Akbar Bugti after setting him up.

M. Ikram Sehgal