'All is well in Balochistan

I was born in Quetta. I love the land of beautiful hills, deserts, beaches, orchards, blue skies , unique foods, great traditions, particularly Baloch traditions of extending respect and hospitality, enriched with natural resources (still untapped due to political disharmony) and strategically the most important part of Pakistan. Balochistan is the future of Pakistan. Today a tiny segment of Baloch youth being misled by Indian intelligence network RAW (Research and Analysis Wing), aided by some US funded Pakistani TV channels and Indian built internet sites, is spreading an impression that this best part of Pakistan was about to separate. But, the ground reality is the other way round. Balochistan attained status of a province way back in 1969 during the tenure of military President General Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan. Balochistans geopolitical location attracted Marxist leadership of the dismembered Soviet Union. Baloch leadership remained in touch with the Communist Party of the Soviet Union before the independence of Pakistan. Soviets always dreamt of gaining access to 'warm waters through Balochistan. Some late Sardars of Balochistan were in touch with successive leadership of the dismembered Soviet Union. Others flirted with former Emperor of Iran, Raza Shah Pehlvi. Two surviving journalists from Quetta Fasih Iqbal and Ghulam Tahir hold important positions in Baloch set up. These two men always held direct access to Balochistans governors, chief ministers, chief secretaries and other key persons. But they think whatever they say should be universally believed. Province of Balochistan produced very mature political leadership mainly comprising traditional tribal heads with large followings. Balochistan is jointly shared by Balochs and Pashtuns with sizeable population of Hazaras from Afghan provinces of Bamiyan and Hazarajat, Brahvi speaking and Khetrani speaking Balochs, Punjabi and Urdu speaking settlers, some Uzbecks and Tajiks, Afghan Pashtuns and Persian speaking Iranians and Afghans who visit Quetta regularly. Tribesmen from Achakzai, Ghebezai, Khlijis, Popalzais, Nurzais (Mullah Omar happens to be a Nurzai), and Tarins travel between Pakistan and Afghanistan without passport or other travelling documents. The largest city and capital of Balochistan, Quetta has always remained a hub of friendly and hostile intelligence agencies. It is known as the 'Fruit Basket of Pakistan and is very rich in plant and animal diversity. Quetta sits near the Afghan border and is quite far from Iranian border Mir Jawah. The city also serves as a hub for Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan trade. The city is situated at an average elevation of 1,654 metres (5,429 ft) above sea level, making it Pakistans only high-altitude major city. The city is in a seismically active area, and was flattened by 1935 earthquake. It is also an important military location occupying a vital strategic position for the Pakistans armed forces, which have their best establishments in Quetta. The city now houses Headquarters of 12 Corps of Pakistan, Regimental Centre of EME (Electric Mechanical Engineers of Pakistan Army), Infantry School, Staff and Command College and Headquarters of Frontier Corps. General Ziaul Haq, former military chief and president of Pakistan had raised 12 Corps after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979. Communist movement of Nur Muhammad Tarakai, who engineered 'Sour Revolution in Kabul, operated from Quetta. Vote of 1970 did bring an era of democracy in Balochistan with democratic minded leadership of the defunct National Awami Party. Towering leaders from Balochistan were mainly tribal heads including Nawab Khair Bux Marri, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, Ghaus Bux Bizenjo, Nawab Yousaf Magsi, Sardar Doda Khan Zarakzaia and Sardar Muhammad Khan Barozai (who later joined Pakistan Peoples Party and his ancestors were Revenue Collectors of Ahmad Shah Abdali), and farming land owners of Jamali clan which remains with the right side of the civil and military establishment. Nawab Ghaus Bux Raisani, Chief of Sarwan, who made first Governor when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took over broken Pakistan in December 1971). Practically Balochistan always maintained three capitals. Ziarat is Balochistans summer capital and in winter leadership of Balochistan shifts to Sibbi for grand Jirga and 'Jashan-e-Sibbi. Province of Balochistan was dominated by 5 Nawabs, one Pashtun and four Baluchs, with Khan of Kalat as head of all the Nawabs and Sardars. Presently, Balochistan has Nawab Khair Bux Marri, Nawab Aslam Raisani, Nawab Zulfikar Magsi while Bugti Nawabship is disputed after the murder of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti. The only Pashtun Nawab is Ayaz Jogezai. Historically, the Balochs claim to be the direct descendents of Hazrat Hamza (RA), a companion of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) who shifted to this land from Syrian city of Alipo. Yahyas Regime decided to hold the first general elections on the basis of adult franchise at national level, they were not only required to make a new mechanism but were also required to set up permanent election machinery. A three-member Election Commission was set up and Justice Abdul Sattar was appointed as the first Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan. The first task before the Election Commission was to enrol as voters all citizens of Pakistan who were at least 21-years old on October 1, 1969. The electoral rolls were put before the masses for corrections on January 16, 1970, and after necessary amendments, the final list was published on March 17. The total registered voters in the country were 56,941,500 out of which 31,211,220 were from the Eastern Wing, while 25,730,280 from the Western Wing. The Election Commission also marked the constituencies, in accordance with the seats allocated for the National and Provincial Assemblies under Legal Framework Order, 1970. One hundred and ninety nine Returning Officers were appointed for the National Assembly and 285 Returning Officers were appointed for the Provincial Assemblies. Twenty-four political parties participated in the elections. They were allowed to begin their election campaigns from January 1, 1970. The public meetings of Awami League in Bengal and Pakistan Peoples Party in the Punjab and Sindh attracted huge crowds. Awami League mobilised support on the basis of its Six-Points Program, which was the main attraction in the partys manifesto. While ZA Bhuttos personality, his socialistic ideas and his slogan of Rotti, Kapra aur Makan, meaning food, clothing and shelter, were the factors that contributed to the popularity of Pakistan Peoples Party. The rightist parties raised the religious slogans, while the leftists raised slogans based on regional and communistic ideas. A total 1,957 candidates filed their nomination papers for 300 National Assembly seats. While after scrutiny and withdrawals, 1,579 contested the elections eventually. None of the political parties filed nominations of their candidates on all the seats. Awami League nominated 170 candidates out of which 162 were for the constituencies in East Pakistan. The party that filed second highest number of candidates was Jamaat-i-Islami. It filed 151 candidates. There were only 120 candidates contesting the elections on the ticket of Pakistan Peoples Party, out of which 103 were from the constituencies in the Punjab and Sindh. Pakistan Peoples Party didnt nominate a single candidate from East Pakistan. Convention Muslim League nominated 124 candidates, Council Muslim League 119 and Qayyum Muslim League 133. According to the original schedule, polling for the National Assembly was to be held on October 5 and for the Provincial Assemblies on October 19. However, due to the floods in the East Pakistan, the dates were changed to December 7 and 17, respectively. Elections on nine National Assembly and 18 Provincial Assembly seats, however, could not be held on these dates because of the cyclone that hit a large part of East Pakistan. Elections for these seats were held on January 17, 1971. According to the results of the elections, Awami League emerged as the single largest party in the National Assembly by winning 160 seats. It was also able to win 288 out of 300 seats in the East Pakistan Assembly. However, the party failed to win even a single seat in the four Provincial Assemblies of West Pakistan. Pakistan Peoples Party managed to win 81 out of 138 seats reserved for West Pakistan in the National Assembly. The party also performed well in the Provincial Assembly polls of the Punjab and Sindh Assemblies. The election results showed that the rightist parties were completely routed. The biggest reason for this was the division of votes among several candidates on almost every seat. Qayyum Muslim League, Council Muslim League, Convention Muslim League, Jamiyat-i-Ulema-i-Islam, Jamiyat-i-Ulema-i-Pakistan and Jamaat-i-Islami as a whole could only secure 37 National Assembly seats. National Awami Party and Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Islam emerged as the prominent parties in the NWFP and Balochistan Assemblies. That result however enabled the National Awami Party to form its governments both in former NWFP and Balochistan. Ghaus Bux Bijenjo, a leader of the NAP became first governor of a democratic government established in Balochistan after Pakistans dismemberment with Pakistan Peoples Party forming Federal and Sindh and Punjab governments. (To be continued)