During the British rule, the ancestors of the
present sardars were submissive tummandars receiving partly stipends as
compensation for their loyalty to them. After Independence they became
troublemakers and have continued to fuel unrest, indulge in defiance and
provoke insurgencies. Pakistan should have dealt with them the way India dealt
with the 565 Rajas and maharajas. New-Delhi had a clear policy. India gave
priority to the rights of the people and deprived the state rulers and
Jagirdars of power, authority and privileges given by the British, The
Pakistani rulers and bureaucrats did not have the imagination and courage to
formulate a pro- people policy in Balochistan. The sardars have been alleging
the Baloch are determined to get their rights by-force. In view of this now it
is about time that firm political action is taken to stop their hostile
activities.
The question, however, is how to do it? Before this
critical question is answered it should be assessed what made the meek
tummandars of British days the warlords of today. The main reason is that the
governments have been following policies of appeasement towards them. They
deemed it advisable to leave the sardars alone. They paid them bribes to ensure
that they desist from causing trouble. This emboldened the sardars who were
convinced that the politicians, bureaucrats and rulers were all unscrupulous
who could be blackmailed easily. 8y now they have become adept, at blackmailing
the administration and exploiting the common man. Pakistani governments and
politicians must share the blame for making the meek turnmandars into sardars
and now warlords. Today they have acquired great influence, power, and respect
in Balochistan and are able to challenge the writ of the state, duly backed by
BLA.
Ghaus Bukhsh Bizinjo, Khair Bux Marri and Ataullah
Mengal had no interest in Pakistan Movement. As protagonists of Marxism and
communism they were loyal to the Soviet Union. Afghanistan was their main
refuge. Now that the USSR has disappeared and Afghanistan has become American
base, it would be advisable for them to rehabilitate their loyalties in favour
of Pakistan. In view of the explosive situation in Balochistan a determined
policy is required to be adopted by Islamabad, on the following tines:
(a) Enforcement
of Sardari (Abolition) Act of 1976,
(b) Dissolution
of BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army)
(c) Getting the
weapons of war surrendered.
(d) Breaking the
power of sardars. Their lands should be taken over and distributed among the
tenants.
(e) As warlords
their threatening statements, rebellious ways should be treated as acts of
treason and dealt with accordingly.
(f)Private jails
of sardars should be closed down and their right to dispense justice and award
punishment forfeited.
(g) ‘ Plugging of
all entry points on Pak-Afghan border to stop infiltration of miscreants and
having strong check-posts on the escape routes to make it difficult of the
terrorists to take
refuge in Afghanistan after acts of sabotage in Pakistan.
(h) Every
conceivable measure should be taken to make the smuggling of arms and ammunition
from across the border into Pakistan impossible.
The government is often criticized for not doing
justice to the province in the matter of allocation of resources and neglecting
its economic development without-realizing that history geography and tradition
has made it a closed, society. The sardars are there to ensure that no windows
are opened to them towards the life prevailing in rest of Pakistan and to the
outside- world. Their vested interests would not permit the entry of fresh air
into the province from any side of the outer world. It is the sardar that
stands between the uplift of Balochistan and its people. No amount of,
allocation of resources to the province would help because they will find their
way into the pockets of the sardars and only meager part of it may trickle down
to masse The governments, political and social institutions of mainstream
Pakistan are not permitted t reach the people branding it interference in the
affairs of the province. The regionalists downplay the Islamic bond that makes
Balochistan an integral part of Pakistan and vociferously highlight Baloch
independence on the basis of their exclusive culture. They will not appreciate
even the mega projects recently launched by the government which when completed
would transform peoples life of poverty into plenty. But that is not their aim.
All they want is to keep the people a- they are so that their over lordship on
them remains undisturbed.
The fact is that once the lid of sardari feudalism
is taken off the Baloch cauldron the process of the development of the province
and improvement in the plight of the people will take off with jet speed and
the province will become part of the national stream. Neutralizing the power
and influence of the sardar in Balochistan, however is the problem which
concerns the age- old tribal traditions which took time to develop and will
take much more time to change. However, whatever the cost the changes have to
be brought about as soon as possible. There lies the integrity of Pakistan.