EDITORIAL (March 09 2010): Two FC men were killed and three injured in a roadside bomb explosion in Balochistan on Friday. The incident is a sad reminder of the fact that the province remains in the grip of an uncontrolled insurgency. After assuming power, the PPP government has made some positive overtures involving political and economic initiatives.

Welcome as these gestures are, they are not enough to mitigate the longstanding and deep-rooted complaints about exploitation and mistreatment by the bigger and powerful members of the federation. A dangerous addition to old complaints is the unresolved problem of extra-judicial killings and 'disappearances' which has increased the trust deficit between the federation and the province to a dangerous level.

What was acceptable a few years ago, when two parliamentary committees prepared their recommendations in consultation with the slain Baloch leader, Nawab Akbar Bugti, has lost its relevance now. Hopes were raised of things moving towards betterment when last November the government unveiled, in a special session of the National Assembly, a healing of wounds plan called "Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan".

As part of a new beginning, the Army would be withdrawn from Sui to be replaced with FC (the local people though view FC with as much suspicion as the regular army) and its law enforcement duties put under the Chief Minister's control.

The missing persons would be identified, and if in custody, those against whom there were no charges would be released while others would be brought before courts, within seven days, for trial. Family member of such persons would be informed and allowed visiting rights. A fact-finding mission was to determine the circumstances of Nawab Akbar Bugti's death, and a judicial inquiry launched into the murder of the three nationalist leaders.

The issue of greater autonomy, meanwhile, formed part of the deliberations of the parliamentary committee on constitutional reforms. Although a majority of Baloch leaders showed little enthusiasm for the package, they would have liked to see it work. Its speedy implementation could have helped pacify inflamed passions in the province. Unfortunately, that was not to be.

The powers-that-be are believed to resist it because of what is perceived as security related issues. It goes without saying that the best security against internal and external threats to the federation is respect for the human, political and economic rights of the people. All such issues can only be resolved through political means rather than the use of force.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2010