Resolution in US Lower House, tensions and misconceptions

Recently a US Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher tabled a concurrent resolution in the US house of Representatives seeking right of self-determination for the people of Balochistan shocked all Pakistanis and triggered a national wise debate across the country. Pakistanis took it a threat to their national sovereignty, a process of disintegrating Pakistan and calling it a “dirty conspiracy” as usual.

A misconception is widespread in media circles regarding this resolution, most TV anchors and reporters call it a bill knowing not the difference that a bill is a proposed law under consideration by a legislature, on the other hand, resolution is often a written motion adopted by a deliberative body and what is tabled in the US house of representatives is a concurrent resolution designed to document opinions, not initiate a process and it is not passed on to executive branch to be signed in to law.

A reverent senior journalist Najam Sethi calls this resolution a “stunt propaganda” adding that it is a media hype meanwhile ignoring the reality that Sherry Rahman and Hina Rabbani Khar are not media persons but ambassador and foreign minister respectively. They, however, are vigorously energetic to criticize America for intervening in their internal matters while neglecting to reach the Baloch issue paying little regard.

In reaction to the resolution, ambassador to Washington, Sherry Rehman, warned it would “seriously impact Pak-US relations.” Foreign minister Khar condemned resolution on Balochistan, and said such acts of “foolhardy and global vigilantism” could aggravate Pakistan’s already estranged ties with US.

 The reaction, posted on the embassy website, stated that "the Pakistan envoy in Washington has taken serious notice of the resolution submitted by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher on Balochistan in the US House of Representative. We reject this ill-informed move and the Congressman's misplaced concern on Balochistan, which is a part of the Pakistani federation". 

"Balochistan has a directly elected provincial assembly of its own and has due representation in the National Assembly and the Senate of Pakistan," the ambassador said, adding that the "resolution seeks to cast doubt on the territorial integrity of a member of the United Nations and a friend of the United States, and is totally unacceptable". Talking to reporters, PM Gilani reacted angrily and described the move as an attack on country’s sovereignty; he said “We condemn it as it is against our sovereignty.”

Such a frantic reaction is likely to make the US or the rest of the world doubt that Pakistan too is afraid knowing the severity of the precarious situation in Balochistan. Thus they are bound to contemplate something brutal is happening in Balochistan couple this with a moral endorsement of the Baloch version of genocide.

 A point needs attention is the ignorance of the media anchorpersons having no background knowledge of the real situation. They blame Sardars for creating the tense situation in Balochistan ignoring the real factors leading to this fortune, and stand them responsible for backwardness of the province and the miseries of the people which is irrational and illogical. 

Another point of paramount significance is not considered by political and intellectual forces that this time the situation is definitely different; critically analyzing the conflict clearly exists because of the youth not Sardars. Therefore, it is not going to be solved until ordinary Baloch people are not dealt and persuaded. By offering bribe to some tribal heads (known as Sardars by many in Pakistan) will not help in diminishing the perilous situation and in sustaining peace as nothing is in their hands. 

Rehman Malik, interior minister, claims foreign hands involvement in violence, and target killings in Balochistan while remains reluctant to produce his incontrovertible evidences when asked, and his irrational claim that the missing persons are in Dubai, Afghanistan is further increasing the hate in the heart of the ordinary Baloch. He makes so foolish arguments forgetting that if there is a foreign power behind the killings again it falls into the responsibility of the security forces and government to tackle them guaranteeing the security of its citizens. 

The anchorpersons are not playing the role of a moderator. They are impatient to listen to those, even amongst themselves, who comment honestly on Balochistan conflict, and always invite experts who denounce Baloch and call them Israeli or Indian agents, meanwhile, heed not for a minute to ascertain the facts led the conflict ridden province under world attention but  mistakenly assume others involvement like the government officials. 

The arrangement of an APC to improve the situation in Balochistan seems to be ineffective as much water has flowed under the bridge. The mainstream nationalist parties refused to participate in the APC. Hyrbiyar says time for negotiations is gone, and they accept nothing short of self-determination whereas Akhtar Mengal has declared that Rehman Malik is a “non-serious” person. Unfortunately, President Zardari’s declaration of meeting the disgruntled Baloch brothers himself might face the same answer as he once remarked that promises are no Quranic verses.

Shameless Rehman Malik’s , extremely futile and nonsensical statement, nothing more than a baby’s babbling that he is granting amnesty to the Baloch leaders is equal to rubbing salt into Baloch’s wounds. He who is not worth of his pay, expresses what he knows not distantly, unworthy of respect, is aggravating the grievances of the Baloch people. Amnesty? what for? For demanding one’s justified natural and constitutional rights?

The situation will not turn to normalcy until they don’t realize and accept their wrongdoings done against the Baloch people and punish those responsible.