Sardars no longer hold sway over Baloch people

KARACHI - Baloch Sardars have considerably lost their traditional and conservative hold over their people who are today more educated, forward-looking and liberal and want to pursue the path of democracy and bring about a change in their own society, said Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, central secretary general National Party (NP) and the son of veteran Baloch leader, late Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo, while giving an interview to The Nation here the other day.

Hasil Bizanjo rejected the popular perception that Baloch Sardars hold sway over their people.

“It may be true six decades ago but huge changes have occurred in the Baloch tribal society which is more independent and forward-looking and the perception that the Sardars are strong even today is not true. No doubt in the tribal culture of Balochistan, Sardars enjoy great respect but that privilege should not be considered as hold over their people”, he said. Sardars in Balochistan are alive on the payroll of establishment and their power lies in government and not in the people. It is unfortunate that government had provided them the shield to oppress their own people, he added.

Bizenjo said that Baloch youth is more educated and liberal and they look forward to play a positive role in their own society through democratic means rather than imposing tribal or despotic solutions to solve the local problems.

When asked what role nationalist parties could play in the war against terrorism, he said they could play their positive role and counter terrorism in a democratic way. Taliban is a bigger threat to the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan than the Americans, who have their own economic interests in this region. The US is running after the mineral and natural resources of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics, he said, adding the establishment and army had protected the religious extremists in the shape of MMA during the last five years. Had they not protected religious fundamentalism, the situation would have been different, he argued.