1. Unrest in Balochistan.

WORRIED at the unrest that prevails in Balochistan, Senators from both the Opposition and Treasury benches have called on the government to take concrete measures to restore normalcy to the province. One cannot help but endorse the contention of a PPP legislator that the suffering of the people and their dissatisfaction had been decades old but, unfortunately, different governments had continued to turn a blind eye to the situation. Senator Raza Rabbani presented a 15-point agenda that among others calls for initiating a political dialogue, release of political prisoners, judicial inquiry into the murder of Nawab Akbar Bugti. They could go a long way in removing the people’s sense of deprivation. It is a pity that the elected government has been found wanting in its duty of setting things right. Of course, the problems goes back to the time the country gained independence but the expectations of a new dawn that when the PPP led set up came into power did not materialise. PPP Co-Chairman President Zardari’s apology to the people of Balochistan for the past injustices just remain hot air. The monetary aid of Rs 46.6 billion he granted to the province will hardly suffice in improving its economic situation. Meanwhile, complaints of Baloch have increased. The assassination of three Baloch leaders has greatly influenced the people’s sentiments. Strikes and act of violence that include targeted killings and kidnapping incidents have multiplied. Attacks on government installations, railway lines, gas pipelines are more frequent. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani suspects the involvement of a foreign hand, which according to him, has been fomenting trouble in the restive region. But whoever is involved, the government cannot absolve itself of its responsibility on reining in the terrorists. This suggests that whatever has been done is too little too late.
All this should invariably set the alarm bells ringing for the government. Equally important is the factor of our political leadership, including the mainstream PPP and PML (N), and their commitment towards the province. Though they agree on the point that there has been some injustice, they somehow do not make a concrete move to remove it. Mere rhetoric and hollow sloganeering that the people of Balochistan continue to hear will remain a non-starter. While the authorities must act quickly to redress the grievances, one would expect that those responsible for creating law and order situation in the province to desist from doing so in the national interest.

2. Respect peace accord

MIAN Nawaz Sharif has taken a stand on the Swat peace deal which is timely, unambiguous and rational. Taking note of highly serious developments that are taking place in Swat and the adjoining areas he has clearly maintained that there can be no bargain over the writ of the state and the democratic system. While he supports talks with the moderate militants, he has expressed concern over the export of a harsh version of Shariah to other parts of the country. His concerns would be shared by a vast majority comprising moderate Muslims, adhering to the ideas of the Founding Fathers, who had rejected theocracy in favour of democracy. The Quaid-i-Azam had put forwards the idea of a separate homeland for Muslims with a democratic, pluralistic and Islamic welfare state.
Many in this country had welcomed the TNSM move to help restore peace in violence ridden Swat. Extremist elements had challenged the writ of the state, attacked government installations and abducted and killed security personnel. Scores of girl schools were torched. A military action launched to bring the situation under control had failed to deliver. TNSM leader Sufi Muhammad promised that the militants would lay down arms, and none would challenge the writ of the state once the Qazi courts were in place. It was widely understood that the Nizam-i-Adl Regulation was a local remedy for a local problem. The government has to abide by the deal. On the other hand the Swat TTP and TNSM have to fulfil their obligations. Rants against democracy and constitution have to end. Security personnel abducted from various areas in Swat on Monday have to be urgently released. There are disturbing reports from adjoining Buner regarding Taliban of Afghan origin, having taken over local administration. They have avowedly taken forcible possession of privates homes and vehicles. Actions of the sort constitute violations of the accord and have to be stopped. Peace in Swat has to be maintained at all costs.

3. Lethal adulteration.

IN a society where adulterated food items and counterfeit products are rife, it is normal to suspect that whatever one is using might not be genuine. It has been noted that generally the eatables even produced by locally established multinationals neither give the ingredients of products nor their quantities on the packing. There is thus every possibility that the otherwise dangerous industrial chemical melamine might be higher than the permissible level in them. Thus the government decision to amend the Pure Food Rules of 2007 to ensure its proper use is commendable. There is also urgent need to acquire the equipment that could analyse the composition of various ingredients in a product. Melamine, it must be recalled, played havoc when it was detected in baby milk in higher than permissible proportions in China. Nearly 54,000 children fell ill and four of them died. Many products were taken off the shelf. Adulteration and counterfeiting in general is a dangerous menace that prevails in the country, and it is time the government took serious note of the problem appearing in different forms and shapes.

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