part 6: local conflicts€¦ · out the militants under operation zarb-e-azb, and partly through...
TRANSCRIPT
THE NAP TRACKER
99© Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
PArT 6: locAl conFlIcTs6.1 Introduction
TheNAPalsoattempts toaddresslocal conflicts in the FederallyAd-ministered Tribal Areas (FATA)(#12), Karachi (#16), and Baloch-istan (#17). The FATA conflict isbeing addressed partly by drivingout themilitants underOperationZarb-e-Azb, and partly throughmuch-neededpotential reforms intheregion.
TheMinistryofInteriorandNarcoticsControlpresentedareportintheNationalAssemblyinJanuary,2016.Accordingtothisreport,acommitteeonFATAreformshasbeenconstituted,surrenderofandreconciliationwithBaloch insurgents isunderway,anurbanpacificationoperation inKarachihascreateda significantdeclineinmurderandviolence(particularlytargetkillings),andthousandsofter-roristshavebeenarrestedorkilled.1
6.2 FATA Reforms
6.2.1HistoricalBackgroundofFATA
FATAisgeographicallylocatedalongtheDurandline,withKPonitseasternbor-der. The semi-autonomous region is comprised of seven agencies — Bajaur,Mohmand,Khyber,Orakzai,Kurram,NorthWaziristanandSouthWaziristan.
The Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR), an archaic, draconian piece of legisla-tion, servesas themanifestationofgovernmentwrit in theFederallyAdminis-teredTribalAreas(FATA)ofPakistan,datingbacktotheBritishcolonialperiodinpre-partitionIndia.The“excludedareas”astheywerecalledbysection91ofthecolonialconstitutionallawofGovernmentofIndiaActarestilltheexcludedareasfromtherealmofdevelopment,investment,andmoderncivilization.FATAhasno
1 QuestionsandOralAnswers,28thsessionoftheNationalAssembly.(2016,January15).RetrievedMarch15,2016,fromhttp://www.na.gov.pk/uploads/documents/ques-tions/1452850149_459.pdf.
locAl conFlIcTsNAP POINT 12:Administrativeanddevel-opmentreformsinFATAwithimmediatefocusonrepatriationofIDPs.
NAP POINT 16:OngoingoperationinKa-rachiwillbetakentoitslogicalend.
NAP POINT 17:Balochistangovernmenttobe fully empowered for political rec-onciliationwith complete ownership byallstakeholders.
THE NAP TRACKER
100 © Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
networkofthestateinstitutionsinthemodernsense.Almostsevendecadesafterindependence,tribalPashtunsremainsubjecttotheapplicationofthisludicrous,inhumanesetofregulations.
Article247oftheconstitutionstates:“SubjecttotheConstitution,theexecutiveauthorityoftheFederationshallextendtotheFederallyAdministeredTribalAr-easandprovinceshallextendtotheProvinciallyAdministeredTribalAreas”.NW-FP’sprovincialgovernorexercisesexecutiveauthorityinFATAasthepresident’srepresentative.TheoveralladministrativeandpoliticalcontrolofFATAfallsundertheFederalMinistryofStatesandFrontierRegions(SAFRON).
6.2.2FCRversus1973Constitution
Pakistan’sconstitutionaffordsfundamentalhumanrights,includingequalcitizen-ry,toallPakistanisunderarticles8-28.However,underarticle247theseprovi-sionsarenullandvoidforFATA.Noactoftheparliamentextendstotheseareasunlessthepresidentdirectsso.Infact,evenlawmakerselectedfromtheregioncanlegislateforanypartofthecountry,exceptforFATA.TheFCRdiscriminatesboth incivilandcriminalmatters,classifiescitizens,doesnotrequireproof forconvictionora civil decree,andgivesno rightofdefensebya counselor,orarightofappeal. Inshort,theConstitutionoftheIslamicRepublicofPakistanasawhole,forallpracticalpurposes,isaredundantandtautologicaldocumentasfarasitsapplicationinFATAisconcerned.Consequently,thepeopleofFATAhaveneitherany‘humanrights’norcantheyclaimanyotherstatus,privilege,positionconferreduponothercitizensofPakistanbytheconstitution.
PleaseseeSection6.6foradetailedargumentonFATAreforms.
6.2.3CurrentStatus:FATAReforms
FATAReformsCommittee,thelatestinalineofmany,wasformedinMay2014,priortotheenactmentofNAP,toframestrategicobjectivesforthevolatiletribalareas.Thiscommitteereleaseditsreportafterthoroughdeliberation.2Butunfor-tunatelythereportdidn’tcomeupwithanysuggestionsonFATAreforms.
AnothercommitteewasformedbythePrimeMinister,almostayearaftertheAPSattack,inNovember,2015.3Themovewasseenbymanyasameanstoappease
2Ali,Z.(2014,March20).AnothercommissionformedonFatareforms.RetrievedMarch04,2016,fromhttp://www.dawn.com/news/1107498.3Manan,A.(2015,November09).Govtformshigh-poweredpanelonFATAreforms-TheExpressTribune.RetrievedMarch04,2016,fromhttp://tribune.com.pk/story/987775/notification-is-
THE NAP TRACKER
101© Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
FATA lawmakers forwithdrawalof their candidateagainstSardarAyazSadiq,amerefivedaysbeforetheelectionoftheNationalAssemblyspeaker.ThereportpresentedtotheNationalAssemblydetailsnoprogressonFATAreforms,exceptthatthecommitteehasbeenformed,SpecialAdvisortothePrimeMinisterSartajAzizhasbeenappointedasthehead,andconsultationsareunderway.1Thecom-mitteewasmeanttodeliberateoverthreecoreissues:
1. extendingthejurisdictionofthesuperiorcourtstoFATA;
2. shiftingthelegislativepowersforthetribalareasfromthehandsofthepresidentandgovernorKPtotheparliament,andtotheBalochistan/KPAssemblies;and
3. decidingifFATAshouldbemadepartofmainstreamKPoroftheProvin-ciallyAdministeredTribalAreas(PATA)inKPorifitshouldbegiventhestatusofaprovinceofPakistan.
Thusfar,thecommitteehasofferednothingsubstantial.
AFATATribunalwasre-formedbythegovernmentinMay2015,totakeupcasesdispensedbyadministrators.TheprevioustribunalhadexpiredinJanuary,2015.4 Thisisanad-hocmeasurethatdoeslittletohelpthepeopleofFATA,andhasverylimitedpowerstoaffectchange.
6.3 FATA: Operation Zarb-e-Azb
OperationZarb-e-Azb is a jointmilitary offensive beingconductedbythe Paki-stanArmedForces againstvarious militantgroups,includingthe Tehreek-i-TalibanPakistan (TTP), the IslamicMovementofUzbekistan (IMU), the EastTurkestanIslamicMovement(ETIM), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi(LeJ), al-Qaeda(AQ), Jundallah and the HaqqaniNetwork.Theoperationwas launchedon June14,2014 in NorthWaziristan,buthas sinceexpanded to includeurbanpacificationoperations intheportcityofKarachiinSindhprovince.Theoperationhas30,000soldiersonthefrontlines,andwaslaunchedfollowingthebreakdownofnegotiationswithextremistelementsandabrazenattackonKarachiairport.5
sued-govt-forms-high-powered-panel-on-fata-reforms/.4BureauReport.(2015,March28).‘Muchawaited’FataTribunalformed.RetrievedMarch04,2016,fromhttp://www.dawn.com/news/1184671.5Salahuddin,Z.(2014,April24).CounteringInsurgency.RetrievedMarch04,2016,fromhttp://www.worldpolicy.org/blog/2014/08/29/pakistan-countering-insurgency.
THE NAP TRACKER
102 © Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
6.3.1Progress
OnJune13,2015,thePakistanimilitaryreportedprogressovertheoperationinthecourseofayear.DirectorGeneraloftheInterServicesPublicRelations(ISPR)AsimSaleemBajwareportedthat2,763militantshadbeenkilledsofar,includ-ing218terroristcommandersin9,000intelligencebasedoperations(IBOs).6Theupdatealsolisted837hideoutsdestroyed,253tonsofexplosivesrecovered,and18,087weaponsseized.347officersandsoldiershadalsosacrificedtheirlivedintheoperation.Thisaccountsforthefirstyearoftheoperation.Thereportpre-sented intheNationalAssembly inJanuary,2016claims2,159terroristskilled,andanother1,724arrestedoverthecourseofthefirstyearoftheNAP.1
Graph 6.1 Progress against Militancy and Armed Combatants
ThisgoesontoshowthatthelawenforcementagenciesinPakistanareparticu-larlyadeptatkillingtheextremistthreat.However,thisasymmetricalwarfareisnotsustainableasitdoesnothingtoeliminatetheradicalideologythatformstherootofthisconflict.Pakistanneedssignificantpolicychangesandlawreformsto
6ISPR.(2015,June13).ISPRPressRelease-NoPR170/2015-ISPR.RetrievedMarch04,2016,fromhttps://www.ispr.gov.pk/front/main.asp?o=t-press_release&date=2015/6/13.
THE NAP TRACKER
103© Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
ensuretherelativepeaceacquiredismaintainedinthelongrun.
PleaseseeSection6.7foradetaileddiscussiononthefutureofNAPinFATAandKP.
6.3.2InternallyDisplacedPersons
PleaseseeSection8.3.3:IDPs–RehabilitationPlans.
6.4: Karachi Operation
6.4.1ViolenceinKarachi
DatacollectedbytheCenterforResearchandSecurityStudies(CRSS)showsthatdespitetheviolenceinFATA,Karachiremainedthemostviolentandvolatiledis-trictinPakistanthelastseveralyearsrunning.Karachilost5,063personstovio-lenceinthelastthreeyears.However,thelevelofviolencehasreducedbynearly78%inSindh,whileKarachiwitnesseda48%dropinthefatalitiesfromdifferentformsofviolenceintheyear2015.7
7Nafees,M.,Gul,I.,&Salahuddin,Z.(2016,February26).CRSSAnnualSecurityReport-2015.RetrievedFebruary26,2016,fromhttp://crss.pk/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/CRSS-Annual-Se-curity-Report-2015.pdf.
THE NAP TRACKER
104 © Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
Graph 6.2 Violence in Karachi – 2013 – 2015
6.4.2Ranger’sDeploymentinKarachi
RangersareaparamilitaryforceundercontroloftheMinistryofInterior,andtheirprimarytaskistoguard,defendandsecurebordersinpeacetimeaswellaswartime,provideandmaintainsecurityinwarzonesandareasofconflict,andmain-tainlawandorderwhichincludesprovidingassistancetothe police.
TheRangersKarachioperationwasinauguratedbyPrimeMinisterNawazSharifonSeptember5,2013,toridthecityofcrime,politicalmilitancyandviolence.8 Twoyearslater,theRangersannouncedthecompletionofphaseone,withthesecondphasetocommencefromAugust14,2015.9
TheRangersoperationinKarachicontinuesatthetimeofwritingthisreport.
6.4.3ShiftinFocussinceNAP
Anewsenseofurgencywasobserved in January,2015,whenthePMcalleda
8Tunio,H.(2013,September04).Karachilawandorder:Rangerstolaunchoperationintwodays-TheExpressTribune.RetrievedMarch04,2016,fromhttp://tribune.com.pk/story/600064/kara-chi-law-and-order-rangers-to-launch-operation-in-two-days/.9Khan,F.(2015,August10).FirststageofKarachisecurityoperationcomplete:Rangers-TheExpressTribune.RetrievedMarch04,2016,fromhttp://tribune.com.pk/story/935314/fist-stage-of-karachi-security-operation-complete-rangers/.
THE NAP TRACKER
105© Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
highlevelmeetingonthelawandordersituationinKarachi.10Therewasaclearshift inmandate,as justoveramonth later,politicalmilitancy,a long-standingsourceofextremeviolence in thecitywas targeted inKarachi.Rangers raidedtheheadquartersofMuttahidaQaumiMovement(MQM),arrestingabscondersandrecoveringbanned,unlicensedweaponry.11ThusbothsourcesofviolenceinKarachi,religiousmilitancyandpoliticalmilitancy,weretargeted.
6.4.4OutcomesofKarachiOperation
IntheJanuary,2016reporttotheNationalAssembly,itwassharedthatasignif-icantdeclineinviolence,militancyandcrimewasobservedinKarachi.1 Accord-ingtothereport,targetkillingwasdownby53%,robberiesdownby30%,andextortiondownby56%.69,179criminalshadbeenarrested,whichinclude890terrorists,676proclaimedoffenders,10,426absconders,124kidnappers,545ex-tortionists,and1,834murderers.Thereportalsoclaimedthat16,304weaponshadbeenrecovered.
10Khan,F.(2015,August10).PMsummonshigh-levelmeetingonlawandordersituationinKarachitomorrow-TheExpressTribune.RetrievedMarch04,2016,fromhttp://tribune.com.pk/story/829573/pm-summons-high-level-meeting-on-law-and-order-situation-in-karachi-tomorrow/11Salahuddin,Z.(2015,April15).ANewTurnforPakistan’sFightAgainstMilitancy.RetrievedMarch04,2016,fromhttp://foreignpolicy.com/2015/04/15/a-new-turn-for-pakistans-fight-against-militancy/.
THE NAP TRACKER
106 © Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
Graph 6.4 Karachi Operation Outcomes - Milestones
THE NAP TRACKER
107© Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
Graph 6.3 Karachi Operation Outcomes - Arrested
Thisdata isbackedbyfindings from theCenter forResearchandSecurityStudies,althoughthefiguresdiffersomewhat.7
PleaseseeSection6.8foradetaileddiscussiononKarachi.
6.5: Baluchistan Insurgency
6.5.1BaluchistanNationalistMovement
Balochnationalisminitscontemporaryformbegannearlyacenturyagointhe1920s in theformof theAnjuman-e-Ittehad-e-Balochan(AIB -OrganizationforUnityoftheBaloch).ThemovementclaimsthattheBalochpeopleareanation,andemphasizesethnicloyaltyoverreligiousloyalty;anideathatiscontrarytotheideologybehindPakistan’s creation.Theirdemandshave ranged fromcultural,
THE NAP TRACKER
108 © Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
economicandpoliticalreforms,topoliticalautonomy,tooutrightsecessionfromPa-kistan.ThemovementissecularandheavilyinfluencedbyleftistMarxistideology.12
6.5.2BalochInsurgentGroups
Theongoing insurgency isnot thefirstof its kind. In fact, thecurrent conflict,startedin2003,isthefifthofitskind.13TheinsurgentsinPakistanarefragmentedintoseveralgroups,mainlytheBalochLiberationArmy(BLA),theBalochRepubli-canArmy(BRA),theBalochLiberationFront(BLF)andtheLashkar-e-Balochistan(LeB-Baluchistan’sarmy).Whilethisfragmentationisreflectiveofthetribalna-tureofBalochnationalists,theirdemandsaredeeplyrootedinBalochnationalistideology.
6.5.3MissingPersons
Missingpersons isagenerictermusedinPakistantorefertotheostensiblyhun-dredsofpersonsin Pakistan whohavedisappeared inconflictzones.
Thenumberofmissingpersons isacontested issue,withahugegulfbetweentheclaimsbyBalochactivists,humanrightsbodiesandthestatisticsofthegov-ernment.MamaQadeer’sVoiceforBalochMissingPersons(VBMP)hasalwaysclaimed the highest toll at 21,000+14. This is abnormally different fromofficialnumbers, as theCommissionof InquiryonEnforcedDisappearances (CIED) in-formedtheSupremeCourtthat982missingpersonshadbeentracedinthelastfouryears.15AccordingtoCIED’sreport,1,273casesofenforceddisappearancesarestillunresolved,withonly122ofthembelongingtoBalochistan.Meanwhile,DefenceofHumanRights,anNGOthattracesmissingpeople,putsthenumberat5,149fromalloverPakistan.16
Missingpersonsremainathornyissueforauthoritiestonavigate.Withoutaprop-erresolutionoftheproblem,reconciliationeffortswillbehamperedinBalochistan.
12Breseeg,T.M.(2004).Balochnationalism:Itsoriginanddevelopment.Karachi:RoyalBookCompany.13BBC.(2014,February22).Balochistan:TheuntoldstoryofPakistan’sotherwar-BBCNews.RetrievedMarch04,2016,fromhttp://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-26272897.14Correspondent.(2015,April17).Raisinghisvoice:21,000missinginBalochistan,saysMamaQa-deer-TheExpressTribune.RetrievedMarch04,2016,fromhttp://tribune.com.pk/story/871142/raising-his-voice-21000-missing-in-balochistan-says-mama-qadeer/.15Malik,H.(2015,February22).Enforceddisappearances:Upto982missingpersonstracedinthepastfouryears-TheExpressTribune.RetrievedMarch04,2016,fromhttp://tribune.com.pk/story/842656/enforced-disappearances-up-to-982-missing-persons-traced-in-the-past-four-years/.16Iqbal,N.(2015,January14).SCseeksreportonnumberofmissingpersons.RetrievedMarch2,2016,fromhttp://www.dawn.com/news/1156658.
THE NAP TRACKER
109© Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
PleasealsoseeSection4.3:CPECSecurity.
6.5.4ReconciliationEfforts
ThegovernmentcurrentlybelievesthatreconciliationandaddressinggrievancesisthebestwaytoappeasetheBalochnationalistsandtoendtheconflictintheprovince.ThereportpresentedtothelawmakersintheNationalAssemblybytheInteriorMinisterChaudharyNisarisfairlyvague.Verbatim,itstatesthat“surren-derandreconciliation/rehabilitationofabsconders/outlawsinprogress”.1 Theex-actfigureforinsurgentswhohavesurrenderedvariesfromsourcetosource,butitwasreportedthat625insurgentslaiddowntheirarmsinthelastsixmonths.17
According to another report, some 1,025 militants, belonging to various pro-scribedoutfits,have surrenderedbefore theprovincial governmentduring thepastyear.18
InApril2015,BalochistanChiefMinisterDr.AbdulMalikalsosaidthatarecon-ciliationstrategyhadbeendevisedtohelpmainstreamBalochnationalists.19ThePrimeMinisteralsovisitedBalochistaninAugustandlauncheda“PeacefulBaloch-istanPlan”tobringangryBalochsbackintothefold.20AfterameetinginOctoberbetweentheCMandthePM,theCMannouncedthathewouldholdatribalcoun-cil tomeetexiled leadersandpersuadethemto jointhepoliticalmainstream.21 BalochistanMinisterNawabSanaullahZehrihadalsomettheKhanofKalat22 inLondonearlierinAugust,2015aspartofthereconciliationpolicy.23
PleaseseeSection6.9foradetaileddiscussiononBalochistan.
17Correspondent.(2016,February08).Balochistanreconciliation:625insurgentssurrenderedinsixmonths-TheExpressTribune.RetrievedMarch04,2016,fromhttp://tribune.com.pk/sto-ry/1042338/balochistan-reconciliation-625-insurgents-surrendered-in-six-months/.18(2016,April26).1,025militantssurrenderedinBalochistanduringpastyear.RetrievedMarch06,2016,fromhttp://www.dawn.com/news/1254551.19Khan,A.(2015,April26).ReconciliationplandrawnupforestrangedBalochleaders:CM-TheExpressTribune.RetrievedMarch06,2016,fromhttp://tribune.com.pk/story/876111/reconcilia-tion-plan-drawn-up-for-estranged-baloch-leaders-cm/.20Shahid,S.(2015,August07).Planfor‘peacefulBalochistan’approved.RetrievedMarch04,2016,fromhttp://www.dawn.com/news/1198912.21Ali,S.(2015,October08).SharifintensifieseffortstoreconcilewithexiledBalochleaders.RetrievedMarch04,2016,fromhttp://nation.com.pk/national/08-Oct-2015/sharif-intensifies-ef-forts-to-reconcile-with-exiled-baloch-leaders.22CurrentKhan-e-Kalat,MirAghaSulimanDaud,wentintoself-exileintheUnitedKingdomaftertheassassinationofNawabAkbarBugtiin2006anddecidedtofromagovernmentinexileofBalochistan.23Shah,S.A.(2015,August15).ZehrimeetsKhanofKalatinLondon.RetrievedMarch04,2016,fromhttp://www.dawn.com/news/1200640.
THE NAP TRACKER
110 © Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
6.6 ARTICLE: FATA Reforms: the Political Economy by Imtiaz Gul24
DowntheRabbitHole
InDecember 2006, at the height ofGeneral (retd) PervezMusharraf’s contro-versialcareeras thePresidentofPakistan,a largemeetingwasconvened.Theattendees includedofficials from FATA, FATA Secretariat (including the PoliticalAgents),SAFRON,andthethenNWFPGoverner,aswellasanumberofFATAelitessuchasministersandclerics,andacontingentofthemilitaryestablishment.ThePresident’s intentwastoputalltheFATAstakeholdersinoneroom,anddeter-minethefutureofFATA.Fornearlythreedays,fieryspeeches,ambitiousplansandreformproposalsbouncedbackandforthbetweenthepoliticalandmilitaryelite,theonlycommonthreadbeinguniversalpraiseforMusharraffortakingtheinitiative.
However,theenthusiasmgavewaytocautiononthethirdday,whenparticipantsuniversallyadmonishedMusharraftonottinkerwiththeexistingsystem,lesthewas prepared to face catastrophic consequences. Despite days of deliberationanddiscussion,thegrouprose,undecided,perhapstomeetanotherday.OneofthePoliticalAgents(PAs)recountedtheseproceedingstomeattheParliamentar-ian’sLodgesinIslamabad.HewasnotparticularlythrilledaboutfuturemovementonthestatusofFATAeither,andperhapsunderstandablyso.Militaryofficials,hesaid,disfavoredanychangesintheviewoftheongoing“religiousinsurgency”.
Themilitary’sstakeinFATAalsocametolightin2009,whena27-memberCom-mittee on Constitutional Reforms deliberated extensively and climaxed withamendments to 105 articles of the federal constitution. However, not one oftheseappliedtoPartXII:Miscellaneous–ChapterIII:TribalAreas.Specifically,Ar-ticle246-whichgeographicallydefines“TribalAreas”,“ProvinciallyAdministeredTribalAreas”and“FederallyAdministeredTribalAreas”-andarticle247-whichgives the President sweeping powers, and excludes these areas fromany par-liamentarylegislation,orlegaljurisdictionfromtheSupremeCourtoranyHighCourt-weresimplymissingfromthesuggestedlist.
RepresentativesfromtheAwamiNationalParty(ANP)andPakistanPeople’sPar-ty(PPP)toldmeinbackgroundinterviewsthatthemilitaryopposedanydiscus-siononFATA.Jameat-e-Ulema-e-IslamFazl-ur-Rehman(JUI-F)membersremainedvaguewhenaskedaboutFATA.Nearlyeveryoneagreedontheneedforreforms,butnonehadanysolutions,andmostblamedtheGHQ.Militaryofficials,includ-ingGeneralTariqKhan,thethenInspectorGeneraloftheFrontierCorps,toldmetheparliamentarians“askedusforouropinionandwetoldthemthatthetiming
24Articlere-printedwithauthor’spermission.
THE NAP TRACKER
111© Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
wasnotright”.But,heunderscored,themilitaryleftittothewilloftheparlia-mentarianstodowhatevertheywantedwithFATA.
Thenetresultwasthattherewasnotevenan“expressionofintentwithregardstochangesinFATA”inthe18thAmendment,passedonApril10,2010.However,tosolelyblamethemilitary’smanipulationoftheFATAreformagendawouldbefeigningobliviousnesstothepoliticaleconomyoftheregion.Thisrabbitholegoesthedeeperthemoreyoutraverseit.
AMatterofRegulations
Inordertounderstandthepoliticaleconomyoftheregion,itisimportanttofirsttakealookatthehistoryandnatureofFATA’scurrentstatus,aswellastheFron-tierCrimesRegulation(FCR).
Historically,FATAhasalwayspresentedacomplexsetofjudicialandadministra-tiveproblems.TheFCR,formedin1901,wasanevolutionoftheMurderousOut-ragesRegulationof1867,whichgaveBritishrulers,historicallyunabletoestab-lish theirwrit in the tribal region,powers toprosecute individuals forheinouscrimes,suchasmurder.In1947,PakistannotonlyadoptedtheFCR,butaddedtheclausethatwouldallowforanindividual’sarrestwithoutevenspecifyingthecrime.Sincethen,theFCRisalmostuniversallyseenasasystemofoppression,outdated,ill-advised,anddraconic.Overtime,theregulationhasbeenamendedseveraltimes,butnevertothebenefitofthepeopleofFATA.
TheFCRcontains64sections,mostofthemill-intended,butthemostdetrimentalonesaresections21-30,32,34and40.Sections21-30,alsoknownastheCol-lectiveResponsibilityclause,allowatribetobepunishedfortheactionsofonemember.Section34allowsforhomesandpropertyofthetribesmentobede-molished,if,forinstance,thestatewishestoacquirethatland.Section32allowsforentiresettlementstobeburnedtotheground.Section40,perhapsthemostabusedofall,allowstheadministrationtodetainaperson,potentiallyforyears,onmeresuspicion,andwithoutproof.ThisalsoimpliesthatthereisnoprovisionfortheaccusedtoappealandprovehisinnocenceundertheFCR.
TheFCRisalsocreditedwiththeriseofmilitancyinPakistan.ProfessorIjazKhanofPeshawarUniversitybelievesthatasatooltoimposeruleoflawandimproveservicedeliveryinthejusticesector,theFCRonlybecameweakerthanitalreadywasafter9/11.WhentheTalibanfledAfghanistan,theycametoFATAbecausetherewasalreadyasecurityvacuumduetopoorgovernance, lackofdevelop-ment,withno judicialoradministrative systemworking for thewelfareof thepeople,illiteracy,andanti-stateangst,allofwhichhelpedthemilitantsmakethisregiontheirsafehaven.
THE NAP TRACKER
112 © Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
TheFCRisalsocompletelysilentonwomen,andaffordsthemnorights.
Understandably,thecontinuationoftheFCRandthelackofprogressonthesta-tusofFATAonlywidenedthegulfbetweenthecitizensofFATAandthefederation.
FATA is theonly region inPakistanwhere theparliament cannot legislate, andtheapexcourtscannotadjudicate.TheareaisadministeredbytheGovernor(asarepresentativeof thepresident)of theKhyberPukhtunkhwaprovince,underthesupervisionofSAFRONinIslamabad.Oddly,the12membersintheNationalAssemblyand8intheSenatefromFATAcanvoteandlegislateonbillsinanypartof thecountry,but theconstituents they represent.Theyhaveno technicalorpoliticalpowerunderarticle247oftheconstitution.TherealpowerbelongswiththePoliticalAgents.
PoliticallyEconomical
JohnDalberg-Acton,theEnglishCatholichistorian,writerandpoliticianoncesaid,“Powertendstocorrupt,andabsolutepowercorruptsabsolutely.” InPakistan,nowhereisthismoreevidentthantheroleofthePAs.PoliticalAgentsarea)thesymbolofthestate’sauthority,b)thetribalpeople’sadvocate,andc)theliaisonbetweenthepeopleandthegovernment.ThePAservesinthreeofficialcapaci-ties,a)thetitularoffice,b)districtmagistrate,andc)sessionsjudge.Hecanevenimposecurfew,rejectbail,andholdsomeoneinconfinementindefinitely.
Nearuniversally, thePA role is viewedascorruptofficialsenjoyingunchecked,boundlesspower.Facilitatedandpoweredbytheroughly35,000orsoMaliks(ti-tle-holders/representativesoftribes),theFCRisoftenusedasafulcrumtoexactpoliticalvengeance.TheeliteandrichcaneasilyleveragetheFCRasamechanismtoescapepunishment(avoteofconfidencefromfourMalikscanpreventdeten-tion),andasatooltoeliminatecompetition,punishenemies,orcleartheplayingfield.Itiseasytoseehowthisoppressiveandunjustsystemcanbeexploitedbythosewithresourcesandpower,andabhorredbyyouthandthelowestrungsofthesocio-economicstrata.
TheanecdoteatthetopsuggeststhatthemilitaryestablishmentisadamantlyandhistoricallyopposedtochangesinthestatusofFATA.TheypresentaformidableblockadeagainstprogressonFCRreforms.The35,000orsoMaliksinFATA,andtheelite,includingtheministers,thebusinessmenandotheraffluentinfluentialsthatenjoyalifeofluxuryandprivilegewithoutconsequence,alsoopposereformsin theregion.Finally, theFATASecretariatandSAFRONareakeystakeholders.TheSecretariatunderthegovernor,includingthesevenPoliticalAgents,andtheirrespectivestaffs(essentiallyasmatteringofsuper-empoweredbureaucratsinIs-lamabadandPeshawar),haveahugemonetarystakeinthestatusquo.ThemostpowerfulandvocalofthesehailfromKhyberandBajaurAgencies,Bannu(North
THE NAP TRACKER
113© Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
Waziristan)andD.I.Khan(SouthWaziristan).
CurrentProgress
TheattemptatFATAreforms isnotnew.ThemeetingwithMusharraf in2006,andtheconstitutional reforms in2009,are just twoexamples. In2010,elevenreformsintheFCRwereproposedbythePoliticalPartiesJointCommitteeonFATAReforms.Thesewerechidedforbeinginvariablychainedtogovernmentinterests.InAugust2011,thethenPresidentAsifAliZardaripassedaPresidentialOrdertoamendtheFCR.Althoughminimalinitsscope,it isstillrecognizedasthemostpracticalandsignificantchangeintheregulationsinceitsinception.
Years later, inMay2014,weatCRSShadanotheropportunity todiscussFATA,thistimethrougha20-episodeseriesofTVshowsand60radioshows-involv-ing about 50notables such as FATAMPs, businessmen, civil societymembers,andrepresentativesfrommainstreampoliticalparties.Ironically,allthesediscus-sions yieldeda fragmentedpicture;mostof theyouth - students, civil society,andyoungerparliamentariansvociferouslyadvocatedfortheabolitionofFATA’scurrentstatus.Mostoftheparliamentariansandbusinessmen,however,pleadedforaphased,incrementalchangetothestatusofFATAthroughextensionofthewritofthePeshawarHighCourtandthelocalgovernmentelections.EvensomeoftheofficialswespoketoalsoarguedthattouchingFATAinexistingcircumstanc-eswasadangerousproposition.Thismirrorsthepoliticaleconomydichotomyintheprevioussections.
Mostrecently,inSeptember2015,nearlythreemonthsaftertheFATAReformsCommission’sreport,sourcesindicatethata“step-by-stepprocedureformerg-ingtribalareasintosettleddistricts”isunderway.Toprecipitatethis,BajaurandMohmandAgenciesfromFATAwillbemergedintoPATA.Theestimatedtimeforthistransitionis8-10months,anditwillserveasasteppingstoneforotherareastobebroughtintothenationalfold.Onthe9th,the22ndConstitutionalAmend-mentBillwaspresentedintheNationalAssemblybyFATAlawmakers,proposingamendmentstoArticles246/247tograntfullcitizenshiprightstothetribesmen,extendthereachofapexcourtstotheregion,andthemergerofFATAintoKP.
TheWayForward
Moong Qabail,theseriesofmediaprogramsCRSSconductedonFATAreforms,broughtfortharangeofsuggestedsolutionsandideasonhowtomanagethiscentury-oldproblem.Theseriespublicallyandempiricallyconfirmedthesenti-mentthatthepeopleofFATAholdFCRresponsiblefortheillsbeingsuffered,andthat itwastime itwasrepealed, reformed,orabolishedaltogether.Thestatusquosimplycannotcontinue.ThepeopleinFATAmayholdthegreenpassport,buttheConstitution’sArticle247andtheFCRdeprivesthemoffundamentalhuman
THE NAP TRACKER
114 © Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
rightsandcivilliberties,eventhoughtheyareaffordedtocitizensinallotherpartsofthecountry.TheseFederally“Alienated”TribalAreasaredeniedtheirrighttolife,security,justiceandexpression.
TheabolishmentoftheFCRpresentsthreeoptionsforthestatusofFATA.FATAcouldbemergedintoKP,becomeitsownprovince,orFATAcouldrunwithitsownGovernorwithCentralCouncil,aswellasagencyandtehsilcouncils.The22ndCon-stitutionalAmendmentproposesthefirstofthese.Failingthis,aplethoraofis-suesneedtobemanaged.Theseincludetheinfluenceofthepoliticalagents,theseparationofadministrationand judiciary, theFATAcouncil,holding localbodyelections,representationofwomen,development,educationandhealthfacilitiesandtheinfluenceofthegovernmentwithintheambitofthejudiciary.
As it stands, two things seemtobehappening simultaneously: thegingerfirststepofmergingtwoagenciesintoPATA,anddoingawaywithFCRaltogether,andmergingFATAintotheKP.Botharegoodnewsforapeoplesubjugatedbyoveracenturyofbadgovernance,archaicpolicies,anddatedregulations,butitmustbesaidthatneitherisofficialorexpectedsoon.MostoftheolderFATAMPsbelievein a gradual shift from the current status tomainstreamingof FATA.However,thepulloftheforcesofstatusquoissimplymuchstrongerthanthosewhofavorcomprehensive reform,wherebythe lawof the landcouldbeextendedto theFATAanditcouldbethusmainstreamed.Toturnthetide,aseriesofmechanismswillneedtobedeployedtohelpmitigatethepowerfulpoliticaleconomythatsovehementlyresistsanyattemptatchange.
Imtiaz Gul is a noted media analyst and author of several books. He is also the Executive Director at CRSS. He can be reached at [email protected].
THE NAP TRACKER
115© Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
6.7 OPINION: NAP has to go a long way in KP/FATA by Shiraz Paracha
ThePakistanTehreek-e-Insaf(PTI)ledbyImranKhanhasbeenleadingacoalitiongovernment in theKhyberPakhtunkhwaProvinceof Pakistan for thepast twoyearsandahalf.
Thecricketer-turned-politicianclaimshisparty’sgovernmenthastransformedtheprovincialpoliceintothebestpoliceforceofthecountrybutitidhardtoprovethatclaimifonelooksatthelaw&ordersituationandthecrimerateintheprov-ince.
Justtwodaysbeforetheturnoftheyear,thecarnageinMardan,thesecondlarg-estcityofKhyberPakhtunkhwa,wasastarkreminderthatalotmoreneedstobedonebytheprovincialgovernmentbeforeitclaimsthatsituationisbacktonor-malintheprovince.Atleast26peoplewerekilledwhenasuicidebomberblewhimselfupattheofficeofNationalDatabaseandRegistrationAuthority(NADRA)inthecity.Another52werewounded.
Itwas thefirstmajorattack in theprovincesince thedastardlygunandbombattackattheAmyPublicSchoolinPeshawarinwhichnearly150people,mostoftheminnocentstudents,weremoweddownbyagroupofterroristsassociatedwiththeTehreik-e-TalibanPakistan.ItwastheattackwhichsentshockwavesnotonlythroughoutPakistanbutacrosstheworld.
ObserverssayhadsecurityguardbeennotpostedattheNADRAofficegateandhewouldnothavestoppedtheattackerfromgettingintotheoffice,thefatalitiescouldhavecrossedthe200marksastheNADRAofficewaspackedwithscoresofpeoplelookingfortheirnationalidentitycards.
QuestionsarebeingaskedthathowcouldthebombermanagetocometotheofficeoftheNADRAridingonmotorbikewithoutbeingnoticed.
Theattackisallthemoreshockingforithastakenplaceinanareawhichisthebirthplaceof2500-year-oldancientGhandharaCivilization.
MonkstrainedatBuddhistschoolsofMardanregionwouldtraveltopresentdayJapan,KoreaandChinatospreadBuddha’smessageofpeaceandtranquility.
Nearly90yearsago, fromhere,KhanAbdulGhafarKhanalsoknownasBachaKhan,hadlaunchedanon-violentmovementfortheindependenceofIndiafromthecolonialrulefromthesameregion.
Unfortunately,thisentireregionwasturnedintoabastionofTalibanandextrem-
THE NAP TRACKER
116 © Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
istsoverpastfewdecades.
ManypeoplesuspectthatextremismspreadinthePakhtunregionontheprod-dingofthepowerfulestablishmentwhichpamperedextremistsgroupstoachieveforeignpolicyobjectivesinAfghanistanandIndia.
Dubbedas“military-mullah”alliance,thethistwo-waycooperationandcoordina-tioncontinueduntiltheAPSdeadlyattackon16December2014.
Followingthattragedy,Pakistanipoliticalandmilitaryleadershipagreedonacom-prehensivestrategyintheshapeofNationalActionPlan(NAP)tofightterrorism.
ThegovernmentclaimstheNAPisbeingsuccessfullyimplementedbutthatclaimisbeingwidelydisputed.
Itistruethatoverthepastoneyearcoordinationamongintelligenceagencieshasimproved,aspecialcounterterrorismforcehasbeenestablishedinKhyberPakh-tunkhwa,but,targetkillings,kidnappingsandradicalizationofpeoplecontinuesintheprovince.
Governmentsourcessaythenumberofterroristattackshasbeenfallenduetothesuccessfulcrackdownof the lawenforcement forces’successfulandbettercoordinationamongvarioussecurityagencies.
Officialsoffederalandprovincialagenciesregularlymeet;exchangeinformationandplancounterterrorismaction.
Nonetheless,manyofficersadmitthatmutualtrustamongvariousagenciesoverinformationsharingisstillachallenge.
TheKPKpolicearebelievedtobeusedasPRtoolbythePTIgovernmentthoughinrealitythereiswidespreaddissatisfactionamongrankandfileofthepoliceforce.
Officersandconstablesfeelthattheirsacrificesarenotdulyacknowledged.
The Police have been pushed into awar forwhich they are neither properlytrainednorbeingequipped.ThePolicearenottrainedtofightterrorism.
Theprovincialgovernmentissaidtobenotsupportingthepoliceforcetheyde-servedtobebackedup.
Themoraleoftheforcecannotberaisedjustbyonlyannouncingfinancialcom-pensationforthosewholaydowntheirlivesorgetinjuredinthelineofduty.
Policeofficersexpectthatprovincialministerswouldstandshouldertoshoulder
THE NAP TRACKER
117© Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
withthePoliceinthefightonterror.
NasirDurrani,theprovincialpolicechief,isacompetentofficer.
Mr.Durranihasbeentryinghislevelbesttomaketheforceworthofitsnamebutbuthehastogoalongwaytogotoachievethisobjectives.
Thereisadiscontentintherankandfileoftheofficersthroughouttheprovince,
Manycivilianofficersdeputedinthepoliceforcearenothappyeither.
There isaclear-cutdivisionamongcivilbureaucracyoverpromotions,postingsandtransfersintheprovince.
Itisunrealistictoexpectgoodperformancefromademoralizedforce.
Duetolackofappreciationandencouragement,civilservantsandpoliceofficersarejustdoingtheirroutinework.Thislackofinterestisnegativelyaffectingprog-ressintheimplementationoftheNAP.
InNovember2015,Isawhundredsandthousandsofhighlychargedpro-TalibanpeopleinthefuneralofareligiousfigureinAkoraKhattak,asmalltownjustsixkilometerseastofNowsheraCantonment.
Theseradicalizedpeopleweredrawnfromalloverprovince,FATAaswellasAf-ghanistantopayhomagetotheirteacherandspiritualleader,MaulanaSherAliShah.
ThedeceasedwasacolleagueofMaulanaSami-ul-Haq,who isknowntohavecontactsbothwiththemilitaryandmilitants.
NewconstructionisunderwayntheHaq’ssprawlingatDarulUloomHaqaniaorseminaryinAkoraKhattakwhichhasservedasaalmamaterforsevera;lTalibanleaders.
Moreandmoreyoungpeoplearegettingthemselvesenrolledwiththeseminary.Topgovernmentleadersarealsoamongthevisitors.
Justmilitary and police operations cannotwipe out terrorism. The places likeDarulUloomHaqanianeedtobeturnedintobastionoflove,peaceandhumanity.Untilthathappens,noNationalActionPlanwillwork.
Shiraz Paracha is an analyst, commentator, journalism professor, and his areas of interest include Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Asia, Russia and China. He can be reached at [email protected].
THE NAP TRACKER
118 © Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
6.8 OPINION: Karachi’s Woes by Amir Zia
TheongoingoperationinKarachiremainsakeycomponentofthe20-pointNa-tionalActionPlan(NAP)withoutwhichPakistancannothopetoachieveadecisivevictoryinitswaragainstextremismandterrorism.
TheNAPdeclarationsaysthattheKarachiOperationwillbetakento“itslogicalconclusion.”Butmorethan twoyearsafter theparamilitaryRangerswereem-poweredtogoaftercriminalsandterrorists responsible forpoliticallyandreli-giously-motivatedkillings,extortion,kidnappingsforransomandterrorism,thismuchtrumpetedcampaign--launchedinSeptember2013--isnowhereclosetoits“logicalconclusion.”
Yes, theoperationbrought“targeted-killings” sharplydown in this restiveportcity.SindhPolicefiguressaythat986peoplewerekilledin2015comparedtothehighsofaround1,925in2014.In2013–thedeadliestinrecentyears–morethan2,500peoplehadbeenkilled,mostlyintit-for-tatkillingsamongcriminal-cum-po-liticalmafiasandvarioussectarianandreligiousgroups,whilein2012suchkill-ingswerealittleover2,000.
Thecrackdownalsohelpedendthereignofterrorofvariouspolitical,ethnicandcriminalmafiasinmanyvolatilepartsofthecity.Extortion,whichwaswidespreadandforcedshopkeepersandtraderstostageaseriesofunprecedentedlock-outsoftheirbusinessesin2009&2010onwards,witnessedasharpdecline.
Kidnappingforransomcases,whichpeakedto283in2013,fellto115in2014asaresultofthearrestsandkillingsofanumberofkidnappersin“encounters.”Andin2015,only25kidnappingforransomincidentswerereported,accordingtothefigurescompiledbytheCitizen-PoliceLiaisonCommittee,whichspecializesinre-solvingsuchcaseswiththehelpofthelawenforcementagencies.
TheHumanRightsCommissionofPakistan(HRCP)inits2015reportonKarachialsohighlightedthedecliningtrendintheincidentsoforganizedviolenceandter-rorism.TheHRCPfiguresshowalmosta50percentdropinthenumberofbombexplosionsinKarachiin2015.
Butdespitesuccesses,therearelegitimateconcernsaboutthesustainabilityofthesegains.
The ongoing tussle between the Sindh and the federal governments over theoperationalautonomyforparamilitaryRangers isnottheonly factortriggeringuncertainty.Thereareanumberofotherfundamentalissues,whichifremainun-resolvedwillnotjustobstructtheKarachiOperationfromachievingitsobjectives,
THE NAP TRACKER
119© Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
buthurtthecountry’soveralleffortinthewaragainstterrorismandextremism.Therefore,thesuccessofKarachiOperationremainspivotalifthegovernmentisseriousinestablishingtheruleoflawandbringingpeaceinthecountry.
Toachievethisgoal,ourpoliticians–bothatthefederalandprovinciallevel–mustshowpoliticalwill,maturityandconsistency.Theyalsoneedtoriseabovetheirnarrowselfandpoliticalinterestsandsincerelyworktobreakthetiesbetweencrimeandpoliticswhichhasbeenthrivinghereforthepastseveraldecades.
However,theforemostandimmediatechallengethatthreatenstowipe-outthegainsofKarachiOperation stems from the lackof consensus amongkey stakeholdersregardingitstargets,directionandmethods.
ThePakistanPeoples’Party-led(PPP)SindhGovernmentistryingtocliptheop-erationalautonomyofRangersandnarrowdowntheambitoftheirassignmentafterraidsonprovincialgovernmentofficesandarrestof“itsownmen.”
The arrest of former federalministerDrAsimHussain – a close friend of PPPCo-ChairpersonAsifAliZardari–ontheallegedchargesofcorruptionandassist-ingterroriststriggeredfearsamongmanySindhGovernmentstalwartsandpar-ty’scentralleadersthattheycouldalsobeamongthepossibletargets.Therefore,thePPPaimstoblunttheoperationandrestrictitsfocusmainlytothebannedsectarianandreligiousgroupsortheotherpoliticalforces,includingtheMuttahi-daQaumiMovement(MQM).
However,theargumentofthelawenforcementagenciesmakessensethatwith-outchokingfinancesandapprehendingsupporters,abettorsandpatronsofcrim-inalsandterrorists,theirjobwillonlybehalfdone.
AlthoughthefederalgovernmenthassupportedtheRangers inthistussle,thefrictionbetweenSindhgovernmentandthesecurityestablishmentisabadnewsinPakistan’sfightagainstterrorism.
ThePPP,otheroppositionpartiesand the rightsgroupsmightbe raisingsomelegitimateconcernsabout theallegedhigh-handedactionsof theRangers,buttheyshouldbeaddressedwithoutcompromisingtheoperationalautonomyandindependenceoftheRangers.
TheauthoritiesshouldconsidersettingupanindependentmonitoringcommitteetoaddresscomplaintsorgrievancesabouttheconductoftheOperation.Thepro-posedCommitteecancompriseofretiredjudgesandcivilsocietymembersandworkintandemwithanin-housewatch-dogofthesecurityestablishment.
ThePPPandtheotherpoliticalforcesshouldrealizethatthereisanoverwhelm-
THE NAP TRACKER
120 © Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
ingsupportfortheoperationamongthemasses.Anyattemptstoderailitwouldonlycreatecomplicationsandunintendedconsequences.Therefore,thepoliticalforcesshouldsupporttheoperationinitspresentformandrefrainfromchangingrulesofthegametosaveaselectfew.
Besides,thecivilianleadershipmustfocusonthefollowinginitiativesiftheywanttoseeKarachiOperationasuccessandachievethegoalssetintheNAP.
Firstly,thegovernmentneedstomoveonawar-footingtoimplementthelongoverduepolicereforms.Thesereformsmustincludegrantingthepoliceforceacompleteoperationalautonomyandindependence.TheyshouldalsoputanendtopoliticalinterferenceinthePoliceDepartment,establishamerit-basedrecruit-mentprocess,ensuremoderntrainingandguaranteetransparencyinalltransfersandpostings.
Secondly,sweepingjudicialreformshavealsobeenpendingforalongtime.TheNAP declaration calls for upgrading the judiciary. This includes increasing thenumber of judge and courts, establishing a protection program forwitnesses,prosecutorsandjudgesandcapacity-buildingandtrainingofprosecutorsandin-vestigators.
Thirdly,thegovernmentshouldalsofocusonabolishingthebreedinggroundsofcrimeandterrorism.Thiscanbedoneonlythroughinvestmentoneducationandsocial,economicandinfra-structureupliftanddevelopment.
Sadly,civilianauthoritiesfarepoorlyonthesethreefronts.Themedia,thecivilsocietyandvariousstakeholdersshouldcreateawarenessandbuildpressureonthefederalandprovincialgovernmentstoinitiatemeasuresonthesethreekeyfrontsasarrestsandkillingsofcriminalsandterroristscanonlyworktoanextent.Therealchallenge in themid- to long-term is toeliminatethose factorswhichbreedcriminalsandterrorists.KarachiOperationcanonlybesuccessfuliftheau-thoritiestakeaholisticapproachandalongwiththeuseofforce,focusonreformsanddevelopmentaswell.
Amir Zia is a senior journalist, who has worked for some leading national and international media organizations in a career spanning over two decades. He can be reached at [email protected].
THE NAP TRACKER
121© Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
6.9 OPINION: The Balochistan Saga by Shahzada Zulfiqar
Thegovernmenthassucceededincontrollingterrorismtoaconsiderableextentin Baluchistan, particularly in areas affectedby theBaluch separatist violence,withtheimplementationoftheNationalActionPlan(NAP).
HoweverithasnotyettakenanytangiblestepstoinitiatedialoguewiththeBa-lochseparatistslivinginexile.
InthefirstapexcommitteemeetingheldinQuettainFebruarylast,aroadmapwasdrawnfortheimplementationofNAP.
Themeeting,chairedbythePrimeMinisterNawazSharifandattendedbyArmyChiefGeneralRaheelSharifalongwithheadsofsecurityagencies,formulatedapolicytoimplementtheNAPbyusingcarrotandstickpolicy.
Under thispolicy, themilitarywasallowedto launch intelligencebasedopera-tionsandatthesametimetheprovincialgovernmentisdirectedtostartreconcil-iationeffortswithBalochseparatistleaders.
Theapexcommitteealsoapprovedageneralamnestyschemeunderwhichmon-etarybenefits,employmentopportunitiesandsecurityforthosewhoarewillingtosurrenderhavebeenannounced.
Underthispolicy,halfamilliontotwomillionrupeesweretobeawardedtothefighters ranging fromanordinaryfighter to a local commanderwho laydowntheirarms.
Thepolicywasaimedatluringthemilitantstoabandonfightinginreturnformon-etarybenefitsandsecurityassurances.
Ithasalsobeendecidedthateffortswouldbemadetoseekdeportationoftheseparatistsleaderslivinginexileinthewesterncountriesaswellasconfiscationoftheirallmoveableandimmovablepropertiesinordertochokethefinancingtotheirbannedorganizations.
BesidesfederalagencieslikeFIA,CustomsandNAB,Policehavealsobeendirect-edtoprobefinancialsourcesoftheseparatistandinsurgentgroups.
ThepeopleprovidingmoneytotheseinsurgentsthroughHawalaunderthegarbofmoneyexchangebusinessarebeing interrogatedwhile revenue recordsarebeingcheckedatthetehsil leveltoobtainthepropertydetailsoftheinsurgentleaders.However,nobreakthroughhasbeenachievedonthiscount,sofar.
THE NAP TRACKER
122 © Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
Thepro-governmenttribalChieftainslikeNawabSanaullahZahri,NawabChagaizMarri–sonandsuccessoroftheseparatistleaderNawabKhairBuxMurri--andSardarSarfarazDombki--thegrandsonofNawabAkbarBugti--playedactiveroleintryingtopersuadetheoutlawedcomradestolaydownarms.
Aroundsixhundredfightersbesidessixcommandersofthebannedorganizationshaveso far surrendered fromAwaran, Lahri,DeraBugtiandKohlu ina specialceremonies.
There are some suspicions among general public about genuineness of thesesurrenderingpeopleamidstreportsthatthetribesloyaltopro-governmenttrib-alnotableswereincludedinthelistof‘surrendering’insurgentsforthesakeofmonetarybenefits.
Ontheotherhand.majorseparatistelementsrejectedthegeneralamnestyofferandvowedtocontinuefightingtillindependence.
The Baloch nationalist groups, however, believe that such amnesty schemesaimedatwinningloyaltiesthroughmoneyinsteadofaddressinggenuineissueswouldnotyieldanypositiveresultinthelongrun.
Intheanti-insurgentsoperation,threenephews,abrotherandabrother-in-lawoftopfugitiveDrAllahNazarbesidesanumberofcolleagueswerekilledinAwaran.
Initially,therewerereportsthatDr.Nazar,whoheadsseparatistBalochLiberationFront,wasalsokilled,but lateravideowasreleasedpurportedlyshowinghimalive.
Some 204 suspected terrorists of banned organizations including TTP and LEJwerealsokilledand29injuredin1935operationsduringlastoneyearwhile9176werearrestedbesidesrecoveringof3290weapons.Nofigureisavailableaboutthecausalityofforcesintheseoperations.
EightlawswereproposedtoreformtheCriminalJusticeSystemandtwoofthemhavebeenapprovedbytheprovincialassemblywhilerestarepending.
Inordertocurbhatespeech,13peoplewerearrestedwhile1200booksand284hatematerialwereconfiscated.
HowevernoactionhasbeentakenagainstMadarisfuellingsectarianhatred.
116casesofsectarianmilitantsarependingincourtswhile54caseshavebeenreferredtoSpecialTrial(military)courts.
ThesecurityforcesarecreditedwithkillingoftopmilitantsofLashkar-e-Jhangvi
THE NAP TRACKER
123© Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
likeUsmanSaifullahandMahmoodKurdaliasWadeed,themastermindsofdead-lysuicideattacks,killingsofhundredsofShiaMuslimsinBalochistanandSindh.
AfterthekillingofLeJleaderMalikIshaqalongwithhiswholetophierarchyinpo-liceencounterinPunjab,therewasgeneralexpectationsthattheircounterpartsinBaluchistanwouldalsobebroughttojustice.
AnimportantcommanderofAl-Qaeda’sUmarLateefwaskilledinAugust2015inChaghiareaborderingAfghanistanwhilehiswifeTayyabawhoissaidtobeheadofthewomenwingofthebannedorganizationwasarrested.
Hisbrother,identifiedasBilal,however,managedtoescapeintoAfghanistan.
Aprovincial governmentdelegationcomprisingministersandparliamentarianscumtribaleldersoftheNationalPartyinRamadanpaidavisittoKhanofKalatMirSulemanDaudlivinginexileinLondon.
NawabSanaullahZahri,thenewlyappointedChiefMinisterandprovincialheadofPML(N),hasalsovisitedLondontomeetKhanSuleman.
Although government and its ministers have been claiming success, but bothmeetingsremainedinconclusive.
Khan went abroad to fight a legal battle in the International Court of JusticeagainstPakistanfor its failuretoabidebythe instrumentofaccessionreachedbetweenQuaid-e-AzamandMirAhmadyarKhan, the lastKhanof theprincelystateofKalat.
AfterkillingofNawabAkbarBugtiinamilitaryoperation,KhanofKalathadcon-venedatribalJirgainKalatinSeptember2006thathadgivenhimthemandatetoseekjusticefromICJ.
The outgoing ChiefMinister Dr. AbdulMalik Balochmet Brahamdagh Bugti inSwitzerlandandisbelievedtohaveconveyedsomeofhisdemandstothemilitaryestablishment.
NoBalochpartyexceptNationalPartyofDr.MalikBalochisinthefavourofmak-ingGwaderportoperationalandconstructionofCPECunlessreservationsofBa-lochpopulationthatitisbeingturnedintominorityduetothesemegaprojectsareremoved.
Anothermajor issueBalochpopulationisconfrontedwith istheregistrationofAfghanrefugeesinmillionsasPakistaninationalsinNADRArecordbesidesvoters’lists.
THE NAP TRACKER
124 © Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
DrMalikandotherBalochpartiesopposedholdingofcensusin2016inthepres-enceofAfghanrefugeeswhoareestimatedtobetwoandanhalfmillioninBa-lochistan.
Themilitaryhighupsinapexcommitteemeetingshaveassuredprovincialgovern-menttoapprisetheirtopbrassaswellasfederalgovernmentaboutitsreserva-tionsandapprehensionsthroughtheirchannel.
PashtoonbasedpoliticalpartiesparticularlyPKMAP,however,rejectthesereser-vationsandopposetheproposalofprovincialgovernmentinthisregard.
AlthoughHomedepartmentclaimstohavetakensternactionagainsttheprivatemilitias,butmanypeopledoubtit.
Thesearmedgroupsarebelievedtohavebeengiveninthecontrolofpro-govern-menttribalnotables.
TheofficialsclaimthatgovernmenthasenoughevidencethatShafiqMengal,whoheadsagovernment-backedprivatemilitia,harborsthehardcoreelementsfrombannedsectarianorganizationsandTTPwhoalsoinvolvedinkillingofeightLevymen.
ThereligiousminoritiesparticularlyHindushavebeenpersecutedbythesemili-tiasduringthepast15yearslonginsurgency.
Hindu traders in restivedistricts particularly Khuzdar, Kalat andMastungwerebeingforcedtopayBhathatotheseprivatemilitias.ConsequentlyhundredsofHindufamilieshavemigratedtoIndiaortoneighboringSindhprovince.
Theactivistsofthesemilitiashavebeeninvolvedincrimeslikehighwayrobbery,rape,carsnatching/liftingandabductionforransom.
AccordingtoareportoftheHomeDepartment,2441seminarieshavebeenreg-isteredwhile518haveyettoberegistered.
Some143,446students including5,862foreignershavebeenenrolled in theseMadaris.
Still,itisbelieved,aroundathousandMadarissituatedinthefarflungareasoftheprovincehaveyettoberegistered.
Dozensof facebookaccounts, tweetersandwebsiteshavebeenblockedwhichwerebeingusedforpropagandainfavourofseparatistsoragainstthestateandsecurityagencies.
THE NAP TRACKER
125© Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016
Shazada Zulfiqar is a veteran journalist from Balochistan who reports for AFP. He can be reached at [email protected].
THE NAP TRACKER
126 © Center for Research and Security Studies - 2016