EDITORIAL: For the last two months supporters of the Haq Do Tehreek (give our rights movement), led by Jamat-e-Islami’s Maulana Hidayatur Rehman, have been protesting for the acceptance of their demands in the port city of Gwadar.
Last Saturday, Baluchistan Home Minster Mir Ziaullah Langove and Adviser to the CM Lala Rasheed met with the HDT leaders, but failed to find a solution. While the Maulana blamed the stalemate on the government‘s “non-serious attitude” scores of protesters were arrested.
Things took an ugly turn on Tuesday when a policeman was shot dead by unidentified attacker(s). Complying with provincial government’s direction, the police have registered a case against Maulana Rehman for the murder. Meanwhile, according to reports, the situation remains tense.
Maulana Rehman rose to prominence last year staging demonstrations to press his demands for redressal of the local population’s grievances. The movement has since attracted a massive following. This year, a large number of women also participated in its rallies.
Most of the issues the HTD has been raising resonate with the people. These include clean drinking water, employment, illegal trawling in Gwadar’s waters by large and powerful vessels sent out by certain outsiders, as well as removal of ‘unnecessary’ checkposts at the Pak-Iran border to facilitate trade.
The main focus though is on the last two issues. It may be recalled that the last time the provincial government had held out the assurance that illegal trawling depriving local fishermen of their only source of livelihoods, would be stopped.
Yet the activity persists. Deputy Commissioner of Gwadar inadvertently admitted this as he claimed that eight trawlers had been confiscated by the fisheries department. Besides maintaining vigilance in their waters the authorities concerned need to firmly tell those in the province from where the illegal activity originates to control it.
As regards the checkposts the government says all ‘unnecessary’ ones have been withdrawn. But to ask about moving away military check posts, to say the least, is unreasonable. For one thing, their presence is vital to securing the border and preventing cross-border movement of violent extremists. And for another, it would open the floodgates to smuggling, which seems to be the real motive behind the demand since many living in the region adjoining the Pak-Iran border have for long depended on smuggling to make money.
Most of the Gwadar residents’ demands are genuine which is why, as noted earlier, the HDT has managed to mobilise people in multitudes.
The government must restrain the usual urge to use force against the protesters, and make good faith efforts to settle the issues at hand by continuing talking to local leaders until an amicable settlement is reached.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2022