As most of the Baloch nationalist parties boycotted the last general elections, they had no representation in the Raza Rabbani-led Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms that prepared the 18th Amendment Bill.
While the rest of the country is celebrating the constitutional reforms, the Baloch nationalists have completely rejected them. The new legislation was expected to help reduce tensions in Balochistan. However, apart from the National Party, whose two leaders are members of the Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional Reforms, all other major nationalist groups declare they will not accept anything less than the right to self-determination.
The new legislation, backed by all mainstream parties, is being termed the most important constitutional consensus after the 1973 constitution. The 18th Amendment removes distortions introduced by successive dictators in the constitution on one hand and grants more autonomy to provinces on the other. After abolition of the concurrent list, a number of powers would be transferred from the federation to the federating units. The new legislation promises 50 per cent share in resources for the provinces. That is almost what most of the Baloch nationalist parties had been demanding until recently when their relations with the federation reached a point of no-return after a military operation was launched in Balochistan.
The radical Baloch nationalists, who seek an independent Balochistan, say they do not need any "relief" from Pakistan. "The 18th Amendment or the Balochistan package is a trap for the Baloch nationalists. They want to lure us. We don't want relief. We want freedom," said Khalil Baloch, Secretary General of the Baloch National Movement, the most radical nationalist party in Balochistan. The BNM was the first political party to publicly support the armed struggle waged by Baloch Liberation Army. The party's president, Ghulam Muhammad Baloch, along with his two other comrades, was killed last year in Turbat. The incident stirred violent protests throughout the province, as intelligence agencies were blamed for the killings.
"What is the significance of the constitution in Pakistan? A military dictator will come and change it according to his will. The piece of paper cannot stop the Pakistan Army from killing innocent Baloch. Is there any mention in the constitution that the abduction of Baloch is allowed. No! But, hundreds of Baloch are missing," claimed Khalil Baloch, adding: "The 18th Amendment may benefit other parts of Pakistan, but not Balochistan, because it is being ruled as a colony."
Senator Hasil Bizenjo of the National Party hailed the 18th Amendment. "It's the biggest achievement since the 1973 Constitution. Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo, Khair Bux Marri and Ataullah Mengal could not persuade Bhutto and others despite years of struggle to abolish the concurrent list. It has been done now. So it's a great achievement," said Hasil Bizenjo, Senior Vice-President of the National Party and son of late Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo. Hasil Bizenjo is also a member of the Parliamentary Committee for Constitutional Reforms.
Senator Dr Malik Baloch, President of the National Party and a permanent member of the Constitutional Reforms Committee, said some, and not all of their demands, were accepted. He said they had demanded Pakistan should be declared a multi-national state and Balochi, Pashto, Sindhi and Punjabi should be granted the status of national languages. This demand was not accommodated. Though he believed the abolition of concurrent list and giving 50 per cent share to provinces on oil and gas resources was a progress in the right direction, complete provincial autonomy was still not granted to the federating units. He said they had demanded that only defence, currency and communication should stay with the centre and other powers be transferred to the provinces.
Balochistan has been under the grip of a low-intensity insurgency since 2001. The Baloch militants affiliated with the Baloch Liberation Army, the Balochistan Liberation Front and the Baloch Republican Army have been demanding separation from Pakistan. Other moderate nationalist parties, including Balochistan National Party and the National Party, have been demanding provincial autonomy. The government has claimed the constitutional reforms package will address the grievances of the Baloch nationalists. However, during discussions with the representatives of almost all the nationalist groups, it was observed that the trust deficit between the federation and the Baloch nationalists was so wide that it could not be bridged through promises on the paper.
"Why should we believe them? They promised to abolish the Frontier Corps check-posts from Balochistan in the so-called Aghaz-e-Huqooq-i-Balochistan package, but they are still there. My car is stopped daily at three FC checkpoints on my way from office to home in Quetta," said Habib Jalib, Secretary General of the Balochistan National Party. The BNP, headed by Akhtar Jan Mengal, has been considered as a relatively moderate party. However, its stance has hardened with time. It now demands more than provincial autonomy. The founder of the party, Attaullah Mengal, has struggled a long way for the abolition of the concurrent list. Jalib says their party does not demand anything less than the right to self-determination.
"Pakistan has failed and its constitution has failed to solve the Baloch issue. We want the United Nations to intervene and play the role of a mediator," the BNP leader added.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik had claimed a couple of months earlier that they were negotiating issues with Brahamdagh Bugti, a leading figure of the Baloch insurgency and a grandson of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti. It was expected that the government had taken Brahamdagh and other Baloch nationalist leaders on board on the constitutional reforms. However, apart from the National Party, none of the nationalist groups was consulted on the issue.
"No, there is no contact between the government and Brahamdagh Bugti. The government is not in negotiation with us on any issue," said Bashir Azeem, Secretary General of the Brahamdagh-led Baloch Republican Party
http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/apr2010-weekly/nos-11-04-2010/dia.htm#6
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