Balochistan crisis

Amid the ongoing fight against the coronavirus pandemic and a burgeoning economic crisis, the PTI government suffered a setback when the BNP-M quit the federal coalition over the non-fulfillment of its demands and lack of attention toward Balochistan.

BNP chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal delivered a usual fiery speech in the National Assembly announcing to quit the coalition for the government’s failure to implement its six-point agenda signed after the 2018 general elections. According to Mengal, the situation in the province is deteriorating, law and order is worsening and the number of missing people have been rising.

The BNP-P wants a peace conference to be convened on Balochistan similar to the one for the Afghan peace process. He said the government was more concerned about Kashmir than Balochistan while the parliament was discussing the wheat and sugar crisis and not the issues of Baloch people. The deprivations of the provinces must be addressed to avert a bigger crisis.

As Mengal pointed out, Balochistan does not even have proper treatment for the coronavirus which is only available in Quetta. No efforts to contain the spread of the virus can be seen in any other part of the province. The children there do not have internet services and cannot attend online classes as schools and colleges remain shuttered. The number of people missing are rising and the National Action Plan against terrorism has not implemented.

The PTI government has decided to address the concerns of its coalition partner. Defence Minister Pervez Khattak has been tasked to reach out to them. Negotiations are necessary but insufficient as the government would now have to show progress on the accord to address their reservations. It is has been just too long and mere statements will be not enough to end the deprivations.

The PTI has struggled to appease all allies as part of a fragile coalition. The BNP-M has four seats in the National Assembly which the PTI needs to maintain on its side. Similar issues were faced with the MQM-P which rejoined the coalition in March after backdoor talks. The PTI has also struggled to appease the PML-Q which demands more influence in Punjab.

Keeping politics aside, there is no doubt that the people of Balochistan have been deprived and the government is more concerned about areas where it holds power. The PTI government should give more attention and resolve all the genuine concerns and bring peace and prosperity to the province as well.