Author:
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: October 16, 2002
Introduction: How the vote was won
in Balochistan: by blaming the US for poor sanitation! Siddiq Baluch reports
The process of Talibanisation of
Balochistan has got a big boost with the emergence in the October 10 election
of the Jamaat-Ul-Islami-dominated Muttahia Majlis-e-Amal as the single
largest party in the Provincial Assembly, as well as with its victory on
the National Assembly seats reserved for Balochistan. This is a clear message
from the voters.
The JUI leaders knew that if they
succeeded in neutralising the administration, they could win. So, they
singled out the "military" governor of Balochistan who happened to be the
chief executive of the province, through a sustained campaign against him.
They levelled serious charges against him, accusing him of involvement
in pre-poll rigging. Sympathising with the JUI, the public functionaries
helped the party to put the government on the defensive and leave the ground
open for the JUI stalwarts to address their voters only.
The JUI leaders also accused the
government of doing selective accountability, of betraying the Taliban
and Afghanistan and of selling out Pakistan's sovereignty to serve the
regional and global interests of the US, but they seldom spoke on political,
social or economic issues. They even linked the sanitation problems in
Quetta to the US interests in Afghanistan and its military presence in
Balochistan.
In order to secure a maximum number
of seats, the JUI leaders fully exploited the religious and national sentiments
of the people against the government, as well as against the US designs
in the region. Thus they would criticise the indiscriminate bombing by
the US of unarmed civilians in the border region close to Balochistan.
The politics of death and destruction in Afghanistan benefited the JUI
as most of people caught, taken prisoner or killed in Kunduz or in Mazar-i-Sharif
in US bombings were loyal to the JUI. A sizable number of them were from
Balochistan. Many of the dead were brought to the province and buried,
while the injured were treated elsewhere in the country.
The ulema of the JUI were the mentors
of the Taliban. Many ministers in the Taliban government were educated
in the JUI's madrassahs in Balochistan, Karachi and the North West Frontier
Province. Still many more from Afghanistan and Iran are getting education
in these madrassahs in the province.
It is a significant change in regional
politics. The election results highlighted that the people residing in
the border regions of the three countries-Pakistan. Iran and Afghanistan-think
on the same lines, opposing US designs in the region. It is further proved
with the extension of power and influence of the JUI from central and northern
Balochistan to western parts of the province. However, the Makran coast
and central Makran remain outside the influence of the JUI.
International observers and Western
diplomats posted in Pakistan did sense such a situation long before the
election. They had exchanged views with political activists, lawyers and
journalists during which they tried to collect evidence of "pre-poll rigging"
by the government in Balochistan. They had expressed their concern, though
in a guarded manner, that conservative religious elements could emerge
victorious in this sensitive province.
However, there is a sense of doubt
about the JUI forming a government given the presence of a large number
of independents. It is certain that the Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party,
the Balochistan National Movement and the Pakistan People's Party would
not join the coalition government and instead opt for the opposition benches.
In short, the only consolation for those who are worried about the JUI's
politics is that this party would not he allowed to lead the coalition
government, as the PML-NA combine would emerge as a larger group. (Courtesy
The News).
