After last month’s terrorism in Balochistan and the brutal killing of innocent laborers in Punjab, Balochistan is once again prominent in the media. The media has been continuously highlighting the poverty, underdevelopment, and issues faced by the Baloch people. Government-opposing political circles and anti-state elements are blaming the state and government institutions for these issues, but these elements have not held the real culprits accountable. The condemnation of the killing of innocents in Balochistan is also missing, leading to Balochistan once again being under military operations and targeted by terrorism. For the first time, female leadership has emerged in Balochistan, with Dr. Mah Rang’s name standing out, although there is controversy over whether she is Baloch or not.
During the era of Muhammad Khan Junejo, I had the opportunity to visit Balochistan multiple times with journalists from my hometown of Shikarpur. Even after visiting Karachi, I had the chance to visit Quetta, Pishin, and other areas twice. Over nearly forty years, I have gathered information about Balochistan, which I have previously written about. During General Zia-ul-Haq’s era, I received significant information from Quetta’s simple Mayor Sardar Muhammad Ayub Wardag due to his hospitality and personal relations. Sardar Ayub frequently visited Shikarpur during harsh winters and had the opportunity to be close to President General Zia-ul-Haq, who even took him on a visit to the U.S.
Sardar Ayub’s white turban gained much attention in the U.S., a fact he himself mentioned to me. Sardar Sahib detailed Balochistan’s real issues to President Zia-ul-Haq. It is also true that several development projects were completed in Balochistan during General Zia’s era.
Quetta was provided with Sui gas during General Zia’s tenure, but during so-called democratic periods, promises of development for Balochistan were frequent but actions were few. The credit for Balochistan’s development during General Zia’s era was scarcely acknowledged by political circles. During the Junejo era, I was officially taken on a visit to Balochistan with other journalists from Sindh. This visit was more about social gatherings than informational purposes, with daily engagements in ministers’ invitations. I arranged visits to the Quetta Municipal Corporation and PTV Quetta through Secretary Information Balochistan Atta Shad. When I mentioned General Zia’s developmental projects during a visit to Radio Pakistan Quetta, those remarks were censored, with instructions to focus on Prime Minister Muhammad Khan Junejo’s era, despite minimal attention given to Balochistan during Junejo’s government.
The operation against separatists during Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s era was political, with Baloch leaders resisting either in the mountains or fleeing to Afghanistan. Operations decreased during General Zia’s era but peaked again during General Pervez Musharraf’s tenure. One must ponder why the anticipated results from proposed operations over the past twenty-five years did not materialize and why the situation in Balochistan remains dire. Balochistan has often been governed by Sardars, whether during undemocratic or so-called democratic governments, with the same Sardars serving as Chief Ministers.
The formula of having a Pashtun Governor and a Baloch Chief Minister continued. During General Zia’s era, General Rahim was a powerful Governor who oversaw extensive developmental work in Balochistan. His wife, Saqiba Rahim, took a personal interest in the political and social development of Balochistan’s women, establishing several institutions for women. During Junejo’s tenure, I had detailed meetings with Governor Balochistan General (retd) Musa Khan and Chief Minister Jam Ghulam Qadir, among other journalists, regarding provincial issues. However, instead of identifying the real culprits behind Balochistan’s issues, political opponents were blamed, and the era was considered a period of development.
In Nawaz Sharif’s three governments, Balochistan certainly received importance, and a network of roads was constructed in the province. However, improvements in the people’s living conditions were not evident. Despite substantial federal aid to Balochistan, it was spent more on corruption than development, with each Sardar taking their share. According to public circles, Baloch Sardars and influential figures focused more on their financial growth rather than the welfare of the people, with education never being a priority.