The state has considered Balochistan as its colony aiming to extract and plunder its resources as the colonial regime did in the sub-continent and providing inadequate contributions to the economic, social, and political progress of the province.
A daughter beseeches for her mother’s whereabouts. A wife cuddling her eight months baby – who was born after his father was abducted – holds a picture of her husband and waits for his return and gives a hug to his son. Similarly, a father with tarnished clothes and a hopeful but hapless mother and sister wait for their beloved to come back. This seems a horrific scene of a movie in which people go missing: from their abodes, educational institutions, and travels and remain missing for years and their family members wait for their return, isn’t it? But no it is not a scene from a movie it is real oppression inflicted by the state and its security forces upon a particular ethnic group – Baloch. In the same way, state has exploited and marginalized the periphery of the country.
Indeed, the state has considered Balochistan as its colony aiming to extract and plunder its resources as the colonial regime did in the sub-continent and providing inadequate contributions to the economic, social, and political progress of the province. There are no quality education institutions; the University of Balochistan is the most militarized and securitized institution, where students go missing from their hostels and regular classes are a distant dream. Therefore, students have to visit other provinces, where they face a sense of alienation, harassment as well as severe censure because of their outfit and look. Furthermore, people face many problems as they live in dire poverty, no clean drinking water in different areas, and multiple diseases.
Besides, all these sufferings, the state has aggrandized its repressive policies in Balochistan. Recent years marked a shift in state policy of disappearance toward students and activists as well as women. The tragic incidents of Karima Baloch and Hayat Baloch and the recent abduction of Hafeez Baloch a Mphil scholar from Quaid e Azam University, Islamabad have traumatized Baloch students. They always live in fear of their abduction. After a female suicide bomber- Shari Baloch, a well-educated woman, blew herself up in front of the Confucius Institute at the University of Karachi killing three Chinese teachers and the driver. But what abet her to do this terror act? simply violence begins violence. She was too concerned about the oppression of her people. Her Husband Dr. Haibatan Bashir told, she believed that our people are living under oppression. She used to say “ innocent Baloch are murdered and abducted and these cruelties will reach our family if we do nothing” Because the unjust demeanor of the state abets a sense of injustice and resentment in people’s hearts, and terror groups like BLA present themselves as the sole savior of their rights and protection of their people.
The state needs to understand that its repressive and fascist tactics in the province will bring more violence. It must look for a peaceful and harmonious way of resolving the Balochistan conundrum, and, must incorporate local people in the negotiation process. In case anyone is founded suspicious of any illegal activity bring him before the courts by following a legal procedure and peaceful means. More importantly, working for a better education system will be the beneficial and shortest way to come out of this situation.
