Editorial: The Undemocratic Republic of Frontier Corps (FC)

In a fresh operation in Khuzdar’s Thotak locality on Friday, the Frontier Corps (FC) killed two young activists of the Baloch Students Organization (BSO-Azad). The federal paramilitary force, which does not have even five percent Baloch representation in its overall composition, surrounded the locality in the early hours of Friday, reported the local residents. Later on, a massive operation was carried out against the civilian population in the midst of all communication system disrupted.

There is no official explanation yet as to why such a heavy contingent of forces was sent to Thotak as early as 4:00 a.m. The local residents insist that it was a preplanned operation intended to scare the local people and maintain FC’s uncalled for influence over the civilians. Besides the killing of two young residents of the area, the FC also injured a lot of citizens by applying brute force. At least thirty others have been whisked away and the homes of the local population were set ablaze.

The fresh operation in Thotak has understandably ignited fire across Balochistan. Different opposition parties such as the Baloch National Front, the Baloch Republican Party and Baloch National Voice have strongly condemned the incident. The Azad faction of the BSO held protest rallies in Karachi, Quetta and Pasni to renounce the use of force by the security forces against unarmed civilians. In Turbat, the BSO observed a shutter down strike.

The role of the Frontier Corps in Balochistan has always come under blistering criticism. By and large, the FC is accused to have established a more powerful government in the province than the actual elected democratic government. In fact, actions taken by the FC, often without the approval of the Balochistan government, do not only embarrass the provincial government but they also drastically contribute to the failure of initiatives taken by the democratic government to make peace in the troubled province.

There was a little ray of hope in Balochistan concerning the improvement of FC’s relationship with the civil population after the former FC Inspector General, Major General Saleem Nawaz, who was widely considered as a hawk from the country’s security establishment, was transferred from the province. In our editorial, we suggested the newly appointed IGFC to play his role in de-escalating tensions. Unfortunately, there are no signs of sanity prevailing in the minds of the big guns in the FC. It continues to run a rogue parallel government inside Balochistan.

We have time and again reminded the FC to adhere to the law of the land and refrain from playing an extra-constitutional role. The onus of solving problems lies with the elected democratic government while the task to maintain peace is entrusted to the provincial police. The FC has become a constant source of irritation for the masses and a cause of distraction and interference for the provincial government and the police department. Oblivious to the Baloch traditions, antagonistic actions by the FC will only alienate the local people and contribute to the problems of the provincial government.

Balochistan’s is purely a political problem which can be settled through political dialogue. Islamabad must dismantle the undemocratic government the F.C. has established in itself. In the short run, the FC has to be stopped from its unauthorized and illegal operations across Balochistan and, in the long run, it has to be reformed in order to make it a more represented, civilized and professional force which does not remain a source of trouble for the masses.

http://www.thebalochhal.com/2011/02/editorial-the-undemocratic-republic-of-frontier-corps-fc/