Silence is golden

Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur

Though a lot has been said and written about the General’s book promotion trip to the USA and many have justifiably vented their anger at the gross misuse of taxpayers’ money and of self-delegated authority, not much has been said about the media’s role in such visits. Along with the seventy-plus top heavy official delegation, cavorting and carousing in the US at our expense for three weeks, there was a big contingent of media persons. The official media persons certainly must have been enjoying themselves at our expense. It remains a mystery if non-official media persons representing various media groups too were fulfilling their responsibilities at our cost. It certainly would be interesting to know who footed the bill for whom. The total cost to the national exchequer will be partly known when questions are raised in the Assembly, but the damage done to the country’s already tarnished image will never be assessed because that is not quantifiable.

We usually get a lopsided picture of these visits because the official media obscures the real issues. Credit should be given to those journalists who stay committed to honest reporting in spite of various pressures. It is their unwavering commitment and comments that keep the media free of shackles and lend respect and credibility to it. Their reports present the true picture and we should be grateful to them.

Oct 31: Shaheed Asim Kareem Baloch

Oct 30: Shudaha-e-Zahedan

No regrets

Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur

The subcontinent has a long history and a strong tradition of dynastic rulers. The rulers since independence have always invoked those images, values and times. That we do not have monarchy still has not been for the lack of effort on their part. The Generals, on the other hand, unable to invoke a dynasty, have depended on Nadir Shahism (the word Bonapartism doesn’t quite convey the real subcontinental flavour). These historical hangovers and pantomimes have played an important role in determining the way we have been governed.

A very distressing and anti-people method of governance has been the end result of these attitudes; good governance requires institutional policy making, decision taking, and a policy implementation system. It also demands unimpeachable integrity on the part of those who wield power; a culture of tolerance and open-mindedness is equally indispensable. Without these crucial elements we end up with the chaos, confusion and corruption which have become the hallmarks of governance in this Citadel of Islam.

Oct 24: Shaheed Abdul Majeed Zahri

Khumar Baloch Target-Killed by ISIS in Balochistan

Pakistan’s former Interior Minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, talking to the press, ruled out the presence of ISIS militants in Pakistan. In June 2017 Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Bugti told the media, “ISIS has no existence in Balochistan.” These are all lies. ISIS, not only does exist but the Islamist terror organization has training camps throughout Balochistan and runs death squads under the patronage of the Pakistan Army.

Abdul Majeed Bizenjo, a former Member of Provincial Assemble (MPA) Balochistan (1988-1990) is leading ISIS in Awaran. He was nominated by Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) from district Khuzdar (PB-32 Khuzdar-III) to the Provincial Assemble of Balochistan. His son Jameel Bizenjo handles the day-to-day terror operations of the Islamic State under his father’s supervision. Both, father and son are affiliated with, and take instructions from Shafeeq Mengal who heads the entire ISIS network in Balochistan.

Oct 21: Shaheed Faqeer Shahwani and Shaheed Zahoor Bangulzai

Oct 21: Mohd Hussain Unqa: A legend of Baloch nation

Oct 19: Shaheed Mir Bazkhan Marri

Collateral damage

Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur

The news of the death of 12 Bugti tribesmen in a supposed clash with the FC men after a mine blast that killed three of the FC men is alarming and disconcerting. Details filtering out say that they were taken into custody after the blast and executed. 

The news is all the more disturbing because this incident is not without precedent. In the Dungan area of Marri agency in the fall of 1975, nine Marri tribesmen of the Shahija and Kalwani clan, including Qaiser Khan, Baazi Khan Shahija and Ganj Ali Kalwani were lined up and shot after the army suffered losses in a clash in the vicinity. That atrocity had gone unpunished and unnoticed and this one too will probably go unpunished, in spite of being reported. Such atrocities have grave implications and consequences for the health of the federation and its credibility as protector of people’s rights.