2024-07-30 22:27:46
Islamabad: Protests are being seen against the government in Balochistan, Pakistan. Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch has sat on a protest in Gwadar. Pakistani officials are trying to remove her, but have not succeeded. The Balochs say that the Pakistani government wants to scare them through guns, but they will not let this happen. The Balochs allege that Pakistan and China are jointly capturing the resources of Balochistan. At the same time, many experts are seeing this as a protest that broke East Pakistan and created Bangladesh. Pakistani journalist Qamar Cheema spoke to Barrister Hamid Bashani on this issue. Hamid Bashani said that such protests have always taken place, which have been changing the leadership. Today, many protests are being led by women and we get to see something similar in Balochistan. He further said, ‘A lot is changing in the politics of Balochistan. Women and youth are being brought forward, who are the soft base. Many female students in Balochistan have been killed, arrested and taken part in protests, which is nothing new.’
Balochistan is talking about its rights
He said that no protester in Pakistan believes in the talks with the government. Because to end the protest, the government accepts the conditions in writing. But later they change their stance. He said, ‘If we look at their demands in the Balochistan protest, then there is nothing that cannot be accepted. They are talking about their rights. But in Pakistan, people are considering it as if the Baloch have demanded their own separation.’
Why do Baluchis take up arms?
Bashani further said that Balochistan is in our democracy. But it has not been given the right to decide for itself. Everyone knows that this is a puppet government. Qamar Cheema asked that many of the people who are protesting have family members who have taken up arms against the government. Regarding this, Bashani said, ‘No government in Balochistan can run without the consent of the army. Then the issue of talks itself ends, that is why they take up arms. If they put down the guns after the talks, then later they are killed treacherously.’
Will the situation be like Bangladesh?
He said, ‘If Balochistan is given enough freedom to take its own decisions, there will be no problem. The problem in this is that the government feels that anti-Pakistan people will come to the House and take decisions that they will not like. This is the case with Bangladesh. They too were accepting their rights and the government. You have already decided that you will not accept, the disadvantages of which have to be seen later.’