EDITORIAL : THE DAWN, PAKISTAN

Balochistan talks

THE federal cabinet met in Balochistan yesterday ostensibly to show its commitment to addressing the problems in the province. The result? Other than the announcement to create yet another commission to investigate yet another death — in this case that of Nawab Akbar Bugti in 2006 — the measures announced fall far short of addressing what is the most critical issue in the province: the insurgency which has turned swathes of the province into a security nightmare. The prime minister led the way in talking a good talk — again offering to hold talks with exiled Baloch leaders; applauding the partial implementation of the Aghaze Haqooq-i-Balochistan package; promising that cabinet ministers will focus on the province more urgently; etc — but there was little real leadership on display.

Some background here is necessary. After the government`s interest in tackling the Baloch insurgency politically was rebuffed by the security establishment, the PPP-led coalition in Islamabad seemingly surrendered control of the security policy in the province to the security forces. A campaign of extrajudicial killings over the past year appears to be snapping the bones of the insurgency, but the insurgency is far from over. In fact, it appears to have developed new contours, spreading to the non-tribal Baloch areas in the province where middle-class, educated separatists are taking up the fight against the state. With missing people still missing and dead bodies continuing to turn up in so-called `kill and dump` operations, the separatists` flames are only likely to be fanned further — meaning that insurgent attacks against state apparatus, the security forces, Punjabi `settlers` and Baloch moderates are almost certain to continue. Through this cycle of violence the elected governments in Quetta and Islamabad have chosen to remain virtual bystanders. The Balochistan government appears content to pocket the vast funds that have flowed to the province over the past couple of years while the PPP-led government in Islamabad appears happy to cling to power while surrendering every facet of the state`s security policy to the security establishment.

Yet if Balochistan is to ever be rescued from the violence that has turned large parts of the province into virtual no-go areas, the elected, political governments will have to take the lead. Several attempts in the 2000s have shown that where there is political will, the hardliners on both sides can be drawn into a dialogue. The fact that the insurgency is still continuing indicates the difficulties of finding a political solution. But with the state keen to exploit the vast natural wealth of the province and the Baloch ultimately seeking a fair deal from the state, a political solution is surely ultimately achievable.

Lawlessness by lawyers

DUE legal process is a universal right that is seemingly being violated in this country by sections of a profession that are supposed to be upholders of the law. On Tuesday, in a third assault in as many months, the offices of the Victim-Offender Rehabilitation and Peacemaking Programme operating out of the city courts in Karachi were ransacked by a mob of lawyers opposed to the NGO`s presence on the premises. The reason: the VORPP provides free legal aid to poor prisoners who cannot afford the services of private solicitors. This obviously rubs some members of the lawyers` community the wrong way, possibly because they believe that the provision of free legal aid takes away a portion of their business. The ire in itself could perhaps be brooked. But what is unacceptable, however, is how people ostensibly dedicated to upholding the law can take matters into their own hands and physically threaten those with whom they disagree. These are lawyers after all. Surely they can take legal recourse if they have a gripe, real or perceived. Instead, they chose to attack the offices of an NGO that, by all accounts, is guilty of nothing more than helping the needy. Would the lawyers who went on the rampage help those who can`t pay them? Our readers can make their own decision.

From amongst the leading lights of the legal profession, there has largely been silence. Until Wednesday afternoon, hardly any voices had spoken out against this brazen assault. So what is the position of the legal fraternity as a whole? Does it condemn this violation of the law or silently support it? Will they allow free legal aid mechanisms to operate or attempt to milk the poor for as much as they can? Much of Pakistan rallied round the lawyers who had launched a campaign to restore members of the judiciary ousted by Gen Musharraf. That `victory` should not leave any members of the legal fraternity feeling above the law. This is not the first instance where lawyers have taken the law into their own hands; it will not be the last unless checks and balances are introduced.

Public transport safety

THE terrible accident on Islamabad Highway on Tuesday, in which at least nine people were burnt alive after an explosion in a minibus, comes as a reminder of the chaotic and indeed hazardous state of public transport in Pakistan. It is unclear exactly why the blast occurred: it could have been due to leakage in the CNG cylinder, although some reports indicate that the cylinder has been found intact. Regardless of the cause, the fact is that the ensuing inferno engulfed many lives. While the driver and some of the passengers seated at the front managed to escape, passengers sitting in the middle and rear of the vehicle were trapped in the flames that consumed the vehicle within moments. The only exit for passengers was jammed and there was no emergency exit. There were no fire extinguishers either.

Ineffective maintenance and inspection mechanisms by the authorities mean that in Pakistan, public transport fleets hardly meet safety standards. Buses and coaches are remodelled to pack in as many passengers as possible and overloading is a common sight on the country`s roads. When an accident of any kind occurs these vehicles turn into death-traps, with barred windows cutting off possible escape routes. Emergency exits in such a situation are the stuff of wishful thinking. Tragedies such as that witnessed this week can be prevented only if vehicle safety and fitness laws are enforced. Given the fact that urban mass transit has been ignored by successive governments, space has been created for the mushroom growth of private and largely unregulated transport concerns. With an eye on profits, these concerns pay scant attention to the condition of their vehicles or the safety of passengers who have no option but to continue using them. The state needs to stringently enforce vehicle fitness laws and put in place an effective regulatory mechanism so that commuters` lives are safeguarded.