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Posted by Dr. Manzer Durrani in Art & Culture on January 25th, 2012
Of love, revenge Camels & jat woman
The folktales and myths of the Baloch constitute an archive of authentic material. Until very recently they possessed no written history or literature only a vast treasure of epic and romantic ballads and tales handed down through the centuries.
These constitute an oral tradition from which their history is drawn: and demonstrate the physical and, moral capabilities of the Baloch, his expertise in war, his skill, powers of endurance, his generosity. They also have a darker side highlighting covertness and his overwhelming passion for revenge.
The fifteenth and early sixteenth century was the golden age for Baloch. In spite of its being a time of fratricidal war; the great rivalry between the Rinds and the Lasharies ,under their chiefs Mir Chakar Khan Rind and Mir Gowhram Lashari. Both descended from a common ancestor. Amir Jalal Khan of Siestan. Most of the Baloch’s greatest stories and Balads relate to his period.
Chakar Khan Rind is the demigod, the larger than life figure, flamboyant and chivalrous. Like King Arthur ruling from his castle and presiding over an array of valiant knights. Only the venue is Sibi and not Camelot, and the knights are Bhivragh, Shahdad, Mirhaan instead of Sir Galahad Lancelot and Perceivable.
In spite of its comparative decentness, this era is clouded in the mystery and we can only rely on the Ballads to tell its tale. Like King Arthur, Chakar has become an almost mythical leader. These tales are of war, love and revenge, and like all love have many variations there being no one-authentic version.
Mir Shahdad Rind was the eldest son of Chakar, a brave and noble warrior. It is said he commanded the Baloch forces when they helped Humayun recapture his throne from the Suris. The love of his life was Mahnaz, his second wife. They were inseparable, delighting in each others company, exchanging poems and token of love.
Murgo his first wife ! overcome with jealousy, conspires to bring about Mahnaz’s downfall .By intrigues and charades (disguising herself as a man), she convinces Shahdad that Mahnaz, his most devoted wife is in love with the shepherd Umar.
Shadad’s fury is uncontrollable, he curses and beats Mahnaz, accusing her of identify. She plead s, implores that she innocent, for it is only him that she loves. but to no avail. Shahdad is unmoved by her pleas. Mahnaz heartbroken, leaves Shahdad and returns to her family.
To prove her innocence and restore her family honor she agrees to undertake a trials by ordeal. The stage is set, both the families are there to witness the trial. Mahnaz has to retrieve a ring from a pot of boiling oil, if she does this without scalding herself she will prove her innocence. Calmly she puts her hand in the pot and removes the ring, without injury to her. Shadad is over joyed and rushes to embrace her, but she turns away. He begs forgiveness, but now Mahnaz has lost her! faith in his love and insists that Shahdad divorce her. He is shattered and cannot believe her intransigence but faced whit no option, complies with her request.
To further wound Shahdad’s pride she marries the shepherd Umar. This distresses him deeply; Mahnaz has chosen a shepherd and rejected him, a prince. He vents his feelings through verse, which he sends to Mahnaz.
Umar is like the hyena, Who inhabits the mountains. Who feeds on carcasses and lives in caves.
And goes on in similar manner, ridiculing Umar. The proud and honourable Mahnaz in her reply addresses Shahdad:
O’ prince you are now incapable of any thing. But to sit in thin house and criticize later Umar is the sword-wielding horseman.
He is the leader of the herd. And further on Shahdad intelligence for believing Murgo. Your intelligence is like water that drips, From a Shepherd’s Mashkizeas.
Down to his heels, Mahanaz is regarded as the finest Balochi poetess. She is by all accounts a truly remarkable woman. Poor Shahdad having lost his love repents his folly for the remainder of his life.
The Sir Galahad of these tales is Bivragh Rind (the name is a distortion of Abu-Bakar). This valiant knight was the nephew of Chakar, an accomplished poet, musician, fighter and lover. He played havoc with both the enemy and women’s hearts. He traveled to distant lands and his exploits and loves were many.
Once whilst visiting Kandhar, he is put in jail for some misdemeanor. His cell is next to the Governor’s palace, from where he witnesses an apparition. This vision of loveliness is Granaz, the Governor’s daughter. Bivragh is love struck, and from that night he sing to her from his confinement. The power and beauty of his voice moves Granaz to ask her father to pardon him. Once free Biragh is not to be denied. He visits Granaz at the palace and both decide to elope. On his trusted horse Mal they frees, with the Governor and his army in pursue! it. Bivragh decides to go to Gandhava, and seek refuge with Mir Gowhram and the Lasharis (his bitter enemies), instead of Sibi to Chakar Khan and his own tribe the Rinds. For he knows that Gowhram will be honour bound to protect him as his ‘Bahot’.
Bahot is a custom of the Baloch whereby cannot be denied to one seeking it, be they even enemies. In fact the refugee giver becomes duty bound to protect with his life his “Bahot:. Thus Bhivragh clever move ensure that both Lasharies and the Rind come to his rescue.
The combined armies of the Baloch are ready for battle against the army from Kandhar, under Shuja-ud-din-Zumun. But now Bhivragh realizes that due to his folly thousands may perish, therefore he will not let his happen. So the night before hostilities are to commence, Bhivragh steals into the enemy camp, seeks out the Governor’s guard tent and after slaying the guard enters his tent.
Bhivragh awakes the sleeping Governor and tells him:
O’ King I am Bivragh – the truth full one.
And a heinous deed I hath done.
I come now to seek forgiveness.
For Kings are truly magnanimous.
But, if thou does not pardon me.
Then take thy sword – and stay me.
Shuja-ud-din-Zumun. Over whelm! ed by Bivragh’s bravery and courage forgives him. And willingly accepts this gallant Baloch his son-in-law. The armies return, no blood is shed, Bivragh’s valor wins the day.
Another instance of Bivragh’s wisdom is when he advice Chakar, not to stake the Baloch race for a Jat woman’s camels. The Jat woman is Gohar who having rejected Mir Gowharam’s amorous advances seeks ‘bahot’ with Chakar. Offend by her act Ramen (Gowhram’s son) and a group of Lasharis kill a few of Gohar’s camel. The Rind chief is furious and vows revenge for this dishonour. This leads to the thirty years war between the tribes, destroying the power of the Baloch and leading a poet to exclaim.
“War has been the curse of the Baloch”.
Of the many battles fought during this war. Nali is most often evoked by the balladeers. At this battle thousands perished. The Rindhs suffered heavy casualties and even Chakar would have lost his life it was not for the chivalry of a Lashari nobleman, called Nodband! agh. In Balochi lor, he is like Hatim generous in the extreme, and also known as “Zarzawal” (Gold Scattered). But Nobbandagh is supposed to have had a Rind mother. For when Gowhram shows his displeasure at his act of rescuing Chakar, Nodbandagh says that it was his mother who used to sin him.
Lullaby’s of Chakar and pray that one day he would help Chakar.”I cannot go against the milk of my mother “,he says.
Jat woman feature prominently in the Baloch story tellers repertoire. They are acclaimed for their beauty, spirit and independence.
Shali is a jat woman of great wealth. She hears of Hassan Maulanagh of the phuze-Rindhs,his noble character and other virtues, for he is the epitome of Baloch manliness. In spite of many suitors she send a proposal of marriage to Hassan !He also falls in love with her and they are engaged to be married. But before the conjugal rites can be performed, Hassan along with his brother, Mohammad is killed by a rejected suitor of Shalli. Sha! lli is heartbroken and spends the rest of her days as Hassan Maulanagh’s widow.
The wrath of Harim descends on his brothers murderers. His lust for vengeance abates only once he has slain a hundred of the Lasharies (sad murd gut geerum kuto”)
An interesting aspect to this tale is that when Harim is asked to marry Shalli his brother “widow” (a common custom amongst the trebles, both Baloch and Pathan), he refuses. For she was his brother’s love and he will not impose himself upon her. And it is because of this refusal that even today amongst the Gishkori tribe (direct descendants of the Phuz Rind )widow are not married to their brother in laws.
These are just a few tales of the Baloch. The dry and barren land of the Balochistan evokes the rich and diverse imagery that transcends time and place and speaks directly to the soul.
Posted by Dr. Manzer Durrani in Islam: The Universal Message of Peace on January 25th, 2012
The position of women in Islam has recently been an issue of debate. Some misconceptions arise, either from traditional practices which are thought to be “Islamic,” but are not, or else from prejudices. However, the real issue is how women are regarded in the Islamic faith, and when we look at this, we see that Islam gives women great social value, freedom and comfort.
Women in the Qur’an
God’s commandments about the status of women and the relations between men and women, which have been revealed to us through the Qur’an, consist of full justice. In this regard, Islam suggests equality of rights, responsibilities and duties between the two genders. Islam is based on sympathy, tolerance and respect for human beings, and does not discriminate against women in this matter.
The examples of good morals communicated to us in the Qur’an are universally compatible with human nature, and are valid for all stages of history.
Respect for women and women’s rights fall within this. In the Qur’an God insists that the tasks and responsibilities of women are the same as those of men. Furthermore, while performing these tasks and responsibilities men and women must help and support each other:
The men and women of the believers are friends of one another. They command what is right and forbid what is wrong, and establish prayer and pay alms, and obey Allah and His Messenger. They are the people on whom Allah will have mercy. Allah is Almighty, All Wise. (Qur’an, 9:71)
God emphasizes that believers will be rewarded in the same manner according to their deeds, regardless of their gender.
Their Lord responds to them: ‘I will not let the deeds of any doer among you go to waste, male or female – you are both the same in that respect… (Qur’an, 3:195)
Anyone who acts rightly, male or female, being a believer, We will give them a good life and We will recompense them according to the best of what they did. (Qur’an, 16:97)
In another verse, Muslim men and women are considered together, and it is stressed that both have the same responsibility and status in God’s sight:
Men and women who are Muslims, men and women who are believers, men and women who are obedient, men and women who are truthful, men and women who are steadfast, men and women who are humble, men and women who give alms, men and women who fast, men and women who guard their private parts, men and women who remember Allah much: Allah has prepared forgiveness for them and an immense reward. (Qur’an, 33:35)
In the Qur’an there are many more verses stating that men and women are exactly equal in terms of their tasks and responsibilities and their rewards or punishments in return. There are a few differences in social issues, but these are for the comfort and protection of women. The commands of the Qur’an regard the congenital differences between the two genders resulting from their creation, and suggest a system maintaining equal justice for men and women in this light.
Islam does not see women as objects. Therefore, it is not seen appropriate that a woman of good morals should marry a man of bad morals. In the same way, it is not permitted for a woman of bad morals to marry a man of good morals:
Corrupt women are for corrupt men and corrupt men are for corrupt women, Good women are for good men and good men are for good women. The latter are innocent of what they say. They will have forgiveness and generous provision. (Qur’an, 24:26)
Also as regards marriage, the duties and responsibilities of couples towards each other require equality. God demands that both spouses be protective of and supervise each other. This duty is expressed in the Qur’an in the following words.
They are covers for you and you for them… (Qur’an, 2:187)
Many rules and commandments exist in the Qur’an regarding the protection of women’s rights on marriage. Marriage is based on the free will of both parties; the husband has to provide economic support for his wife (4:4); the husband has to look after his ex-wife after divorce (65:6).
The Islamic Emancipation of Women
As the verses make clear, Islam brings justice to male-female relations and puts an end to harmful practices resulting from customs and traditions of pre-Islamic societies. One example is the situation of women in pre-Islamic Arab society. The pagan Arabs regarded women as inferior, and having a daughter was something to be ashamed of. Fathers of daughters sometimes preferred to bury them alive rather than announce their birth. By means of the Qur’an, Allah prohibited this evil tradition and warned that on the Judgment Day such people will definitely have to account for their actions.
In fact, Islam brought with it a great emancipation for women, who were severely persecuted in the pagan era. Prof. Bernard Lewis, known as one of the greatest Western experts on the history of Islam and the Middle East, makes the following comment:
In general, the advent of Islam brought an enormous improvement in the position of women in ancient Arabia, endowing them with property and some other rights, and giving them a measure of protection against ill treatment by their husbands or owners. The killing of female infants, sanctioned by custom in Pagan Arabia, was outlawed by Islam. But the position of women remained poor, and worsened when, in this as in so many other respects, the original message of Islam lost its impetus and was modified under the influence of pre-existing attitudes and customs. 1
Karen Armstrong, another Western expert on Islam, makes the following comment:
We must remember what life had been like for women in the pre-Islamic period when female infanticide was the norm and when women had no rights at all. Like slaves, women were treated as an inferior species, who had no legal existence. In such a primitive world, what Muhammad achieved for women was extraordinary. The very idea that a woman could be witness or could inherit anything at all in her own right was astonishing. 2
In fact, during the many centuries that followed Prophet Muhammad, women of the Islamic societies had a much higher social position than the women of Christendom. Karen Armstrong emphasizes that, during the Middle Ages;
… the Muslims were horrified to see the way Western Christians treated their women in the Crusader states, and Christian scholars denounced Islam for giving too much power to menials like slaves and women. 3
Anna King, a modern Muslim woman and a convert – or, better to say, a revert – to Islam, explains the Islamic emancipation of women as follows:
Islam first gave women their rights in a time when women were nothing but the property of men. Islam gave women the right to buy and sell on their own, own businesses and express her views politically. These were all basic rights which the American woman was not granted until relatively recently! It also encouraged women to study and learn Islamic knowledge, breaking a ban which several religions had stipulated, which forbid women to acquire any religious knowledge or touch religious texts… It also abolished the practice of marrying a woman without her consent. Thus, one would have to be very stubborn indeed to refuse such obvious facts and proofs that Islam was women’s first liberator.
The tendencies to see women as “an inferior species” who has no right for education and that must be totally secluded from the society arose much later in the Islamic world, as a result of deviations from the right Qur’anic path.
Conclusion
Thus we can say that the mentality that despises women, excludes them from society and regards them as second class citizens is a wicked pagan attitude which has no place in Islam.
In fact, devout women are depicted as good examples for mankind in the Qur’an. One is Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. Another is the wife of the Egyptian Pharaoh who, despite her husband’s wickedness, is also described as an ideal Muslim. (see, 66:11-12) The Qur’an also describes very gentle conversations between the Prophet Solomon and the Queen of Sheba (27:42-44), and between Moses and two young ladies (28:23-26), which symbolize the civilized social relationship between the two genders.
Therefore, it is impossible for a Muslim to have a bigoted approach to women. In a society where true Islamic morals are practiced, immense respect and sympathy will be shown to women, and it will be ensured that they can live in freedom and comfort.
The fundamental rule in Qur’anic exegesis is ensuring that the derived meaning is in conformity with the integrity of the Qur’an. When this is considered, it is seen that all the rules mentioned to us by Allah regarding women form a social structure allowing them to live in the most comfortable and happiest way. In a society where all the moral values mentioned by Islam are practiced comprehensively, the social position of women becomes even more exalted than in societies that we today regard as modern.
Read more of Dr.Harun Yahya’s articles on Women in Islam at”http://www.womaninthequran.com/
1. Bernard Lewis, The Middle East, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, 1995, p. 210
2. Karen Armstrong, Muhammad A Biography of The Prophet, Harper Collins Publisher, USA, 1992, p.191
3. Karen Armstrong, Muhammad A Biography of The Prophet, Harper Collins Publisher, USA, 1992, p.199
Posted by Dr. Manzer Durrani in Art & Culture on January 25th, 2012
PARO
By
Mohammad Hameed Shahid*
Tethering the Motley in the yard he muttered under tone: when sheaths ripen the coming asarh, I will buy another of your pedigree. He tested the knot on the moving his hand gently on the ox’s back. This act sent a feeling of exhilaration through his whole being. He was not entirely overwhelmed with that passion when his back felt a volley of disrupted breathing. He turned upon his heels swiftly but by that moment the sensational breath had changed into a shrill shriek, which pierced the space all around.
They say it was Paro’s last scream.
She was Wilayat Khan’s wife, possessed with evil spirits. They also tell that with this final cry of terror Paro recovered from her hysterical fits forever. This incident however rendered her dumb and nobody beard her speaking ever again. This condition pained those who recalled the good days, when, after suffering the usual fit, she recovered from the evil influence and regained herself completely. So much so that Wilayat Khan wondered at her recuperation and the house resounded with the bursts of her laughter.
Nevertheless, it did not seem as if her final scream had swept off her all uttering, smiling and shrieking, nor did she subject to the fits anymore. Her lips were nonetheless sewn forever, sealed as if it were with the crust of muteness. Thehajjan Mom agitated over Paro’s barren lap, her perpetuated silence and addressed Wilayat thus: “I know you passionately cherish Paro’s welfare, possessed as she is, makes unbearable hue and cry, yet you solace her. Dumb as she has turned now numbs the very heart and then is this dreariness. All praise for you, despite these untoward happenings you contemplate the beast to have a second wife. Anyone will be tempted to bring in one. Listen to me, waste no more time, and remarry. God-willing gloom will give way to bloom in this desolate abode.
When Wilayat heard such talk, he turned pale. He uttered no word and looked despondently at Paro’s lips, which he found sealed as ever. Far back when they began living together, Paro’s laughter echoed, and Wilayat also doted on his pair of oxen, which emerged with flying colours on all occasions of village racing tournament. He kept these animals at the other end close to mangers. He was very proud of this pair. His mirth however evaporated when he peeped intoParo’s eyes, bedimmed and devoid of lustre. She was indeed in a miserable state. It was not long that they had married, there was no apparent reason for discontent yet something quite imperceptibly perplexed her. This predicament marred the gay atmosphere of the house and rendered it unbearably morose. Her smiles and giggles were gagged by this involution. The house was overflowed by this stolid awkwardness. Wilayat Khan, before whom lay prostrate all his opponents of Kabaddi, by virtue of his calm demeanoursomehow managed to keep Paro in good humour.
Soon, however, this compulsive humour began poisoning her inwardly. This situation arose after a year or so when Wilayat purchased the Motley. Wilayat was among the few of village darlings. His high regard accrued from his enviable physique, uppish stature and victories in the Kabaddi events. Then he was owner of the handsome pair of oxen, which outmatched the entire Punjabbreed in running. He was well versed with the art of maintaining himself. He got up early before darkness dispelled, marched briskly for miles, on way back he hewed with the axe one large pack of firewood. His diet comprised parathasfried in pure ghee, glassfuls of lassi and milk. In the evening he massaged his total body, exercised at dand baithaks and tried prowess with sturdy friends for hours. He took pains to the point of fatigue with the pair of oxen: bathed and scrubbed clean their bodies, oiled horns and hoots, reaped fodder and brought it to his dwelling, chopped it. He soaked oil cakes, mixed them with hay, put this forage in mangers, unfastened the oxen and conducted them to feed on it. He derived immense delight out of this.
Then exhaustion overtook him and he became restless inwardly. In order to wriggle out of it, he hit upon a ruse. He went to purchase the Motley. In the coming asarh he planned to add to his cattlehead as the granaries would then be full to brim. His scheme did not materialise because the swelled barns depleted all of a sudden. He did not purchase another animal. This was also due to the fact that Wilayat Khan had himself changed his mind. It was strange as the Khan was a person of resolute nature, whatever passed through his mind, firmly settled on it and nothing could efface it except the complete accomplishment of the idea. Otherwise he remained grossly disturbed. On the contrary now Wilayat Khan did not only abandon the project, but also the very thrill of executing it extinguished in his heart.
The story goes that he made up his mind to get the Motley castrated and was about to leave with it for the veterinary when Fazloo reached with his cow which was on heat. He behaved that there was no other pedigreed ox throughout the area far and near and was cautious lest his cow conceived a mongrel. Wilayatwas as hesitant as he had been while marrying Paro. His was the conviction wrestling forbids flirting with a woman even in imagination. He had to yield when his palaestra-pails hurled a challenge. The true claim of masculinity lay in wresting Paro otherwise it was all an empty boast, they said. Paro waslambardar’s daughter, a ravishing beauty.
Her youth had bloomed all of a sudden in the near going- by days!
She came of age bewitchingly, which overwhelmed the entire village. Adolescence had been stealthily overtaking damsels of the locality quite for some time. Neither the girls themselves were conscious of this metamorphosis nor the people around got any wind of it. Puberty in the case of Paroapproached bursting and thrusting. Her whole body proclaimed youthfulness ostentatiously. Wilayat noticed this rapturous reality also but he seemed leastproned and his body remained immune from the germs of covetousness. His fellow-fighters of gymnasium, with tucked waistbelts, persistently asserted that only one who had Paro for himself could justificably claim genuine manliness.Wilayat determined to pass through this test of hardihood. He swore not to rest until he secured Paro. He was a bit handicapped, as he did not belong to the prosperous class of farmers. At the same time he owned sufficient patch of land, which ranked him with the well to do. Then, to boot, he was the scion of a noble family, possessed well-built physique and was famous as the champion ofKabaddi matches. These factors procured him Paro.
At the time Paro was tied in wedlock unto him, his tranquillity interrupted inwardly. Similar sensation overtook him now as he listened to Fazloo saying: “Look Wilayat sonny! my cow hails from an impeccable species. I brought it from across the rivulet, and paid a huge sum emptying almost all the wallets. When I milk it utensils overflow to brim. To tell you the truth I avoid glancing its udders lest evil befalls. Got wills it that the ox you own sounds very sturdy, itscohibition will procreate progeny pure. ” Fazloo continued bragging and boasting at a strain. Meanwhile Wilyat stood up on his feet quietly motioning him bring the cow closer for mating with the Motley.
The day Fazloo brought the milch that yielded abundant milk, along with its fondling calf, Wilayat at their sight felt strange sensation pervading through his veins. Fazloo obligingly sent milk to his house the whole month through.Wilayat Khan forbade but he desisted not. One day when Paro churned this very milk, she suffered a spasmodic fit. The attack was so severe that she tore her clothes and clutched at the hair. Her jaws twitched, bands and feet cramped, she writhed in agony. Hajjan Mom declared her as one “possessed”. Theyrecoursed to charms and amulets, fumigation and incantation, forty-day meditative exercise, circumvention at home to ward off demons and circumambulations at shrines to invoke bliss. Exorcism did not come up andParo’s agonising condition tormented Wilayat beyond endurance. He failed to comprehend the harm done to demons by Paro who had clinched and clung her so maliciously.
Paro’s fits and the Motley’s hits turned together the talk of the town everywhere. The much-milk and comely-calf boasts were broadcast by Fazloo vehemently.Wilayat was extremely delighted with all that. Resultantly many more cows from the village and neighbourhood reached with frequency to benefit from the Motley’s mating. Delivery of healthy calfs and offering of milk to Wilayat became a routine matter. Overflow of milk and ghee at home leavened the limbs ofWilayat still further. On the other hand Paro’s condition worsened. The demons initially possessed her at the time she churned lassi, now writhing fits became more frequent. Under these spasms she behaved queerly, as if amorously fondling a tiny babe. Such actions of Paro prompted hajjan Mom to assert that if she were delivered of a child, her severe fit-hits would cease to occur. However days on sudden seizure of such convulsions enhanced and expectation aboutParo’s bearing became far and few between.
Oh this biological make of a female! It is absolutely a labyrinthine mess, a confused entangled mass. Outwardly sheen and shining, so fresh and fine, it suffers inwardly from numberless ailments. With a husband of Wilayat’s solid and vigorous built, if Paro was devoid of motherhood, deficiency lay somewhere within her. Thus declared hajjan Mon, and everyone believed it to be true.
Once again she was conducted to saints and sane souls, recipes of sanyasiswere poured down her throat, solemn vows of offerings were made at various shrines, but in vain. Paro hesitated to tie an amulet or take a philter for purpose of personal relief, but haj’an Mom compelled her to try all such novices. Many a device was employed, but nothing seemed to have borne fruit, nothing was to be born, and she bore none. Wilayat was apathetic to all this- apathy or fatality whatever the reason! He seemed contented only with the tidings of a newly born calf or a pail full of milk sent by way of offering to him.
As a matter of daily routine, standing in the yard, he patted affectionately his Motley and at the same time, lending an ear to a villager’s account of a lately delivered calf. Suddenly from verandah rebounded the thud and throe. Paro had fallen on floor churning lassi. She cried shrilly, her voice piercing through the still. Wilayat hurried to the scene of tragedy. He found her lying flat on the ground in a wretched state.
Wilayat delayed no more, he resolved. He turned on his heels swiftly, unfastened the Motley from peg, and repaired to the vet-dispensary. When he returned home, he noticed at his back the warmth of Paro’s disorderly breath, which changed into clamour. They affirm that was he latest when Paro shrieked and thereafter she was never seized with spasms. At the same time they were aggrieved because the demons had packed off with all her pronouncing words.
(English rendering by Prof. Shoukat Wasti)
Posted by Dr. Manzer Durrani in Pakistan's Hall of Shame on January 25th, 2012
Balochistan Needs Sincere & Priority Attentions
Government is facing the issues of memo, poor governance, defying of rules and court orders, corruption, power, PIA, Railway and deteriorated relations with USA. Whereas opposition parties are busy in exploiting the said issues for political point scoring. Unfortunately, none of the political party is paying any heed to a very sensitive issue of Balochistan militancy. Rulers and opposition though singed unanimously Balochistan economic packages in October 2008 and March 2009. But probably later the government failed to give momentum in implementation of the programme in true letter and spirit. As a result already operating anti state elements of Balochistan took the benefit of instable political milieu of the country and intensified their sabotage activities.
In this connection from 2003–2011 almost 1,417 insurgent attacks reported in Balochistan. In December 2011 Dr Syed Baqar Shah was gunned down by unidentified men in Sabzal Road area near Golimar Chowk when he was on his way to home from Bolan Medical College (BMC). Purpose of killing Dr. Baqar could be that foreign sponsored insurgents made a deliberate plan of creating unrest and instability in the province.
Again on November 21, 2011 in one of the deadliest-ever attacks on security forces Baloch insurgents of BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army) ambushed a paramilitary convoy near Turbat city and killed 14 troops, including two officers. Recently, a pipeline transmitting gas to Karachi and interior Sindh was damaged in a blast by unknown attackers near Dera Bugti’s Sui area. Security sources said the explosive material was planted in the Gopat area, 24 kilometers from Sui. Apart from the revealed activities some foreign supported elements are found involved in abduction, blasting and killing of innocents Balochs.
In this regard, Brahamdagh, Balach and Hyrbyar while sitting in Switzerland and America playing foreign sponsored agenda of establishing Greater Balochistan (covering areas of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan). The rogue elements (like, BLA, Brahamdagh’s militant wing BRA) and disgruntled politicians/sardars are actually involved in anti-Pakistan activities. People of Balochistan should watch the traitors around them who are actually playing the games of their foreign masters. They must reject the ideology of rogue elements and remain loyal to their national stance. At the same time government must acknowledged the masses rights over the natural resources explored in Balochistan. In fact foreign predators are having dirty designs against the mineral rich province and want to grab these resources. Balochistan government has decided to excavate gold mines at Reko Diq through own resources. Project that the treasure discovered at (EL-5) Reko Diq belongs to the people of Balochistan and they have the right to award a mining licence for the project, therefore, TCC – a foreign company involved in exploration should withdraw in the larger interest of public sentiment.
Similarly, Gwadar Port is deep seaport which is strategically and economically vital project which is being developed with the help of China. Gwadar port has empowered Pakistan to control strategically important energy sea-lane on the Persian Gulf and also enabled Pakistan to have a strategic depth southwest from its naval base in Karachi that has long been vulnerable to blockade by the Indian Navy. Recently, Islamabad has also offered Moscow to export her goods through Pakistani seaports. In this context Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar is also visiting Russia soon. Moreover, “Q1A the complete development of the port and surrounding areas will bring the revolution in lives of Baloch people particularly and as result Baloch will be free from clutches of sardari systems.
In short, we can say that development of Reko Diq resources, operation of Gwadar Port and any progress of general public are directly threatening common interests of US, some of neighbouring oil states, India and anti states lords of Balochistan. Therefore, all these parties got united against Pakistan interest of development of Gwadar Port since the same is not fit in their agenda of destabilization of Balochistan.
We must acknowledged that Balochistan remains the most neglected province and 88 per cent of its population lives in subhuman conditions but it is just because of its traditional lords system. The lords of the Balochistan in the name of welfare of general public use to get heavy royalty but they never ever spend it on the masses. The greatest sin of our past rulers and lords is that those have never tried to improve the economic and political conditions in Balochistan. Some of the lords are widely publicizing incidents of Human rights violation in Balochistan by highlighting the so-called miseries of Balochs, like disappearances, political victimization, displacement due to clean-up operations, etc.
US government on the advice of CIA has started an organized Psychological Warfare through “twitter-briefing” that the department holds every Friday, allowing people around the world to tweet their questions to her. In this context CIA in collaboration of her sister intelligence agencies RAW, Mossad & Afghan Agency by design have launched anti Pakistan propaganda through twitter on the issue of Balochistan on Januarys 13, 2012. U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Victoria Nuland answered questions submitted to the Department’s 10 official Twitter feeds during a Twitter Q&A at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. In this programme CIA agents using pseudo names of Baloch maligned Pakistani security forces for killing and abduction of people and in turn Ms Nuland on behalf of her government in the Q&A session and “twitter Briefing” said that the United States is deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in Balochistan, especially targeted killings, disappearances and other human rights abuses. The State Department official noted that the US took the allegations of human rights abuses very seriously and had discussed these issues with Pakistani officials. “And we also urged them to really lead and conduct a dialogue that takes this issue forward,” she concluded. It would not be wrong in saying that most of the “twitter questions” were deliberately crafted about the ‘Independent Balochistan”. It is mentionable here that CIA remains very notorious in using social websites for fomenting her agenda tapping the masses against their rulers in Libya, Egypt, Syria, Iran, Russia, and other Arab States. The current episode of State Departments of using Social Networking Sites (twitter and face book) reveals that CIA have now turned the guns in accelerating militancy in Balochistan. Foreign agencies, Western and American media is cultivating in the minds of the Baloch nationalists that China intends to occupy their natural resources and Pakistan security forces are involved in killing and abduction. Contrary to US and India propaganda, china has developed infrastructure and Gwadar Port for the promotion of Baloch poor people. Chamalang Education Programme, Sui Education City, Balochistan and Gwadar Institutes of Technical Education, Kassa Hills Marble Project and the enhancement of security forces are praiseworthy steps taken by Pakistan in relation to Balochistan.
However, Pakistan government should take steps in removing and rectifying the common people of Balochistan. In this regard, appreciable gesture has been shown when Prime Minister Gilani’s renewed commitment holding talks with the angry Balochs and promise to implement all matters decided in Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan in true letter and spirit. President Asif Zardari’s determination to strengthen federation expressed on death anniversary of Ms. Benazir Bhutto is also praiseworthy.
Concluding, I must say that American and Indian dream of capturing the region will not come true because Pakistan, China, Russia, Iran, and central Asian States are well aware of their hegemonic design but there is a definite need of taking proactive measures against malicious Plans of New Delhi. Pakistan government should take firm steps in handling the issue intelligently. The media should show the actual faces of so called nationalist leaders and others who are playing in the hands of America and India. Pakistan’s top political brass should get together and fight the battle first instead of discussing petty issues. Civil and military top brass and all segments of society must realize that situation in Balochistan is getting tense day by day. The province has been targeted by our worst enemy India and other likeminded states. Negativity of Balochistan situation demands real reconciliatory steps / actions which is very much possible through sincere and priority attention.
The writer can be approached through [email protected]
Posted by Dr. Manzer Durrani in Pakistan's Hall of Shame on January 25th, 2012
Balochistan Needs Sincere & Priority Attentions
Government is facing the issues of memo, poor governance, defying of rules and court orders, corruption, power, PIA, Railway and deteriorated relations with USA. Whereas opposition parties are busy in exploiting the said issues for political point scoring. Unfortunately, none of the political party is paying any heed to a very sensitive issue of Balochistan militancy. Rulers and opposition though singed unanimously Balochistan economic packages in October 2008 and March 2009. But probably later the government failed to give momentum in implementation of the programme in true letter and spirit. As a result already operating anti state elements of Balochistan took the benefit of instable political milieu of the country and intensified their sabotage activities.
In this connection from 2003–2011 almost 1,417 insurgent attacks reported in Balochistan. In December 2011 Dr Syed Baqar Shah was gunned down by unidentified men in Sabzal Road area near Golimar Chowk when he was on his way to home from Bolan Medical College (BMC). Purpose of killing Dr. Baqar could be that foreign sponsored insurgents made a deliberate plan of creating unrest and instability in the province.
Again on November 21, 2011 in one of the deadliest-ever attacks on security forces Baloch insurgents of BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army) ambushed a paramilitary convoy near Turbat city and killed 14 troops, including two officers. Recently, a pipeline transmitting gas to Karachi and interior Sindh was damaged in a blast by unknown attackers near Dera Bugti’s Sui area. Security sources said the explosive material was planted in the Gopat area, 24 kilometers from Sui. Apart from the revealed activities some foreign supported elements are found involved in abduction, blasting and killing of innocents Balochs.
In this regard, Brahamdagh, Balach and Hyrbyar while sitting in Switzerland and America playing foreign sponsored agenda of establishing Greater Balochistan (covering areas of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan). The rogue elements (like, BLA, Brahamdagh’s militant wing BRA) and disgruntled politicians/sardars are actually involved in anti-Pakistan activities. People of Balochistan should watch the traitors around them who are actually playing the games of their foreign masters. They must reject the ideology of rogue elements and remain loyal to their national stance. At the same time government must acknowledged the masses rights over the natural resources explored in Balochistan. In fact foreign predators are having dirty designs against the mineral rich province and want to grab these resources. Balochistan government has decided to excavate gold mines at Reko Diq through own resources. Project that the treasure discovered at (EL-5) Reko Diq belongs to the people of Balochistan and they have the right to award a mining licence for the project, therefore, TCC – a foreign company involved in exploration should withdraw in the larger interest of public sentiment.
Similarly, Gwadar Port is deep seaport which is strategically and economically vital project which is being developed with the help of China. Gwadar port has empowered Pakistan to control strategically important energy sea-lane on the Persian Gulf and also enabled Pakistan to have a strategic depth southwest from its naval base in Karachi that has long been vulnerable to blockade by the Indian Navy. Recently, Islamabad has also offered Moscow to export her goods through Pakistani seaports. In this context Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar is also visiting Russia soon. Moreover, “Q1A the complete development of the port and surrounding areas will bring the revolution in lives of Baloch people particularly and as result Baloch will be free from clutches of sardari systems.
In short, we can say that development of Reko Diq resources, operation of Gwadar Port and any progress of general public are directly threatening common interests of US, some of neighbouring oil states, India and anti states lords of Balochistan. Therefore, all these parties got united against Pakistan interest of development of Gwadar Port since the same is not fit in their agenda of destabilization of Balochistan.
We must acknowledged that Balochistan remains the most neglected province and 88 per cent of its population lives in subhuman conditions but it is just because of its traditional lords system. The lords of the Balochistan in the name of welfare of general public use to get heavy royalty but they never ever spend it on the masses. The greatest sin of our past rulers and lords is that those have never tried to improve the economic and political conditions in Balochistan. Some of the lords are widely publicizing incidents of Human rights violation in Balochistan by highlighting the so-called miseries of Balochs, like disappearances, political victimization, displacement due to clean-up operations, etc.
US government on the advice of CIA has started an organized Psychological Warfare through “twitter-briefing” that the department holds every Friday, allowing people around the world to tweet their questions to her. In this context CIA in collaboration of her sister intelligence agencies RAW, Mossad & Afghan Agency by design have launched anti Pakistan propaganda through twitter on the issue of Balochistan on Januarys 13, 2012. U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Victoria Nuland answered questions submitted to the Department’s 10 official Twitter feeds during a Twitter Q&A at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. In this programme CIA agents using pseudo names of Baloch maligned Pakistani security forces for killing and abduction of people and in turn Ms Nuland on behalf of her government in the Q&A session and “twitter Briefing” said that the United States is deeply concerned about the ongoing violence in Balochistan, especially targeted killings, disappearances and other human rights abuses. The State Department official noted that the US took the allegations of human rights abuses very seriously and had discussed these issues with Pakistani officials. “And we also urged them to really lead and conduct a dialogue that takes this issue forward,” she concluded. It would not be wrong in saying that most of the “twitter questions” were deliberately crafted about the ‘Independent Balochistan”. It is mentionable here that CIA remains very notorious in using social websites for fomenting her agenda tapping the masses against their rulers in Libya, Egypt, Syria, Iran, Russia, and other Arab States. The current episode of State Departments of using Social Networking Sites (twitter and face book) reveals that CIA have now turned the guns in accelerating militancy in Balochistan. Foreign agencies, Western and American media is cultivating in the minds of the Baloch nationalists that China intends to occupy their natural resources and Pakistan security forces are involved in killing and abduction. Contrary to US and India propaganda, china has developed infrastructure and Gwadar Port for the promotion of Baloch poor people. Chamalang Education Programme, Sui Education City, Balochistan and Gwadar Institutes of Technical Education, Kassa Hills Marble Project and the enhancement of security forces are praiseworthy steps taken by Pakistan in relation to Balochistan.
However, Pakistan government should take steps in removing and rectifying the common people of Balochistan. In this regard, appreciable gesture has been shown when Prime Minister Gilani’s renewed commitment holding talks with the angry Balochs and promise to implement all matters decided in Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan in true letter and spirit. President Asif Zardari’s determination to strengthen federation expressed on death anniversary of Ms. Benazir Bhutto is also praiseworthy.
Concluding, I must say that American and Indian dream of capturing the region will not come true because Pakistan, China, Russia, Iran, and central Asian States are well aware of their hegemonic design but there is a definite need of taking proactive measures against malicious Plans of New Delhi. Pakistan government should take firm steps in handling the issue intelligently. The media should show the actual faces of so called nationalist leaders and others who are playing in the hands of America and India. Pakistan’s top political brass should get together and fight the battle first instead of discussing petty issues. Civil and military top brass and all segments of society must realize that situation in Balochistan is getting tense day by day. The province has been targeted by our worst enemy India and other likeminded states. Negativity of Balochistan situation demands real reconciliatory steps / actions which is very much possible through sincere and priority attention.
The writer can be approached through [email protected]
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