Troubles in Balochistan

Sui the area in Balochistan from where natural gas is provided to the rest of Pakistan has been facing troubles. The trouble of the rights of Balochistan over its supply to the rest of the country have been ignored for too long. As long as there was a political solution to this issue and civilian management – the differences did not exist. If any arose they were resolved to the mutual benefit to all. But troubles have been mounting since the military took over the top management of the company. Things have become worse because the military in its ham handed way started undoing all the arrangements made which keep the peace in Balochistan. The always think guns and bullets are the answer to all the issues. Never in the history of the country has there been stoppage in the supply of natural gas to the country, but this has under happened under a military management. Wherever the military controls anything, things are bound to go to be problems.

Some of the classic examples are that of Karachi Electric Supply Company – which is the only company which supplies to the whole of Karachi. This company has military officers running it. Electricity supply is completely unreliable because of endemic corruption which exists in it. No matter how poor the service is people are expected to pay inflated bills. Then there is the examples of water supply for Karachi. Several areas of the city do not have water pipelines and so the people living in those areas have no choice but rely on water being supplied by an arm of the military through water tankers for which they pay. In areas where there are water pipelines, the supply is the bare minimum. Despite all these problems people are required to pay the annual water bill.

Almost everything the military gets involved eventually goes to the dogs. The military believes the answer to everything are guns and bullets. .Such things only create more resentment. The situation in Sui is an example of military ham handedness. Attempts to blow up the gas pipeline or the beating up of the staff of the gas company is just and example how much hatred has grown in the people of the military’s way of doing things. The way of freedom from terror of bullets and guns is subversion. It has already started and will not go away. The military never learns its lesson. East Pakistan was lost for the same reasons which have arisen these days. What happened over 30 years ago will be repeated.

It would be best all the military to withdraw from everything because it has shown it cannot improve anything. Where there a political solution is required, the military cannot be expected provide one. It is the job of the politicians of Balochistan and the rest of the country to resolve this issue. Almost all the problems the country suffers from have been created entirely by the military.

The political will of the people cannot be suppressed forever. Only politicians understand the needs of all interest groups. They negotiate, they make deals and come up with an acceptable solution. But our military considers the people of the country as mindless entities.

Petrol prices are increased on a whim and will keep on increasing. The increase in petrol prices is an example how much greed and corruption there is in every level of this country’s highest levels. Ordinary people are forced to pay the boundless greed and avarice of those in power. Why should not the price of petrol not be Rs 1 per litre? Why should not brand new cars not cost only Rs 10,000? The answer lies in the foreign bank accounts of those in power at the moment.