The Balochs in this country have faced deprivation, oppression, and even discrimination in recruitment of lowly jobs in government and state-owned corporations. In promotions within the state-owned corporations, especially those based in Karachi, this bias is very evident. KPT and PIA are two such organizations where senior officers from Balochistan have been sidelined and discriminated on one pretext or another. Jobs (if any) given against the Balochistan quota are given to those with fake domiciles, a fact that can be verified by anyone who takes the trouble to verify facts. If the Chief Justice of Supreme Court or the Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court were to order an inquiry, the facts revealed would clearly show a deliberate bias on the part of senior executives, including the CEOs of these corporations in gross misuse of their powers of discretion. Junior officers and people taken on contract, with similar or lesser qualifications and definitely much less experience, have been promoted while Baloch officers with genuine credentials have been bypassed. The record of foreign postings in PIA would reveal the abuse of discretionary powers, also verifying the cronyism and nepotism that dominates the choice instead of merit. The relatives of top officials from other communities, some even with criminal records, have been posted to choice stations like Frankfurt and Toronto. Personal files of Baloch employees have been doctored with and deliberately tampered with ulterior motives. Those in the federal government may not be directly involved in this injustice but they bear the ultimate responsibility since its their nominees that are made senior executives to preside over this injustice in corporations as MDs and chairmen of the Board of Directors. -HANIF BALOCH, Quetta, December 1.