As the time passes the land of civilisations Baluchistan’s daughters are becoming politically more aware of their national rights. In any battle field Baloch women can play a significant role to help continue Baloch struggle of national independence. In this regard “Baloch Women panel” was set up in 2005. The organisation is comprised of likeminded Baloch women who support Baloch peoples’ struggle for independent. This organisation since its existence has been trying to politically motivate Baloch women so that they can become a part of Baloch struggle for National Liberation. They are steadfastly continuing their journey toward their goal. Few days back Baloch Women Panel’s Central committee members Sajni Baloch and Mehr Jan Baloch spoke to daily Mashraq (an Urdu daily news paper) about Baluchistan’s current situation, Baloch people’s political struggle and other issues that Balochistan is face with today. We are glad to present their interview in English for our readers. Translated by BalochWarna Team
Question (Q): There are already so many political parties in Balochistan. What made you to set up the Baloch Women Panel and what are its aims and objectives?
Answer (A): That is true we do not lack political parties but there are multiple reasons for setting up Baloch Women Panel. If you look back at the history when Balochistan was annexed by Pakistan in 1948, Baloch sons have revolted against the forced merger. Pakistan has imposed the army operations as a response to Baloch struggle. Pakistan has not accepted the existence of Baloch Nation since 1948 and Baloch Nation did not accept Pakistan as a state. Our struggle is continuation of the 1948 struggle. Baloch Women Panel was set up and has formally started working in 2005. The aim to set up BWP was to politically motivate Baloch Women and let them know that in order to get rid of slavery they need to join the national struggle. Initially BWP started activities by protesting against the abductions and forced disappearances in Balochistan. The struggle to reunite the missing Baloch with their families is still going on. Baloch Women Panel’s objective is to spread political awareness among Baloch women. To some extant BWP has succeeded to bring some positive impacts. Baloch Women have become aware of their National right and are getting closer to their main destination.
Q: When first BWP’s name appeared in the media it was said that BWP is a non political organisation. It was set up to work for missing person only. As the time passed BWP has changed and now it has emerged as a political party?
A: yes, we have started our work by protesting against extra judicial arrests but even then we did explain our position – maybe we could not make people understand or no body understood us. What we meant by not political was that BWP is not affiliated with any political parties. BWP is an independent plat form where Baloch women make their own independent decisions. We never meant that we were not political. One thing I must clarify that we do not believe in parliamentary politics but we support the resistance movement in Balochistan. We are in favour of National liberation of Balochistan. We agree with those likeminded political and resistance parties who are demanding for Independence. However we have our own organisational structure where women make their own decisions. Nobody can impose their decisions on us. We are minded when we make political and National decisions. We believe the injustices, cruelty, exploitation, and indiscrimination of last 60 years have left no room for parliamentarian politics for Baloch Nation. That is why those involved in parliamentarian politics are actually deceiving Baloch people. The resistance is now final resort. We are trying to unite our Nation because a united struggle can help us to reach our destination sooner.
Q: You just spoke of unity, Nawab Bugti had also called for a single party but nobody acted on his call instead a separate BWP was set up. Does this mean that men and women cannot work together in Baloch society?
A: This impression is wrong. Every society has their own different set ups. Baloch society also has its own set up which is combination of tribal and religious costumes and traditions. Not everything is acceptable in such a society. To make this acceptable we constitute Baloch Women Panel so that we can reach all women easily and Baloch women can express their views without any hesitation. No Baloch brother or father would be a hurdle in the way of their sisters or daughter. Infect now they happily allow their daughters and sister to come and talk to us. As I explained before that Women’s organisation is for women only. We do not take dictations from anyone; we are free to make our own policies and decisions. This impression is a wrong propaganda that Baloch men and women cannot struggle together. Yes, we do have limits in our society where women’s activities are only limited to women. Having said all that; we are in contact with other likeminded Baloch non-parliamentarian parties. We did protests, rallies and demonstrations together as everyone has seen it. However we try to work within the limits of our Baloch traditions. While keeping in mind our traditional and religious obligations we will continue our struggle toward our goal.
Q: Baloch Women Panel is working on one agenda only but Baloch women face many difficulties. Baloch women are kept backward and even killed using outmoded tradition as a tool. Why don’t you speak against such acts?
A: The traditions which you are talking about or the world is crying on have nothing to do with Baloch traditions. When the whole nation is kept enslaved and discriminated against in such circumstances only talking about the backwardness of women is a drama initiated by the NGOs. Women hold a very high place and respect in Baloch society, a woman is never considered weak or less than any other individual. Narrow-mindedness is not a part of Baloch traditions. In Baloch society women have full freedom of speech. There is equality in Baloch society and men cannot impose their decisions on women. The civilised world have recently realised that women should come forward and work together with men but our history tells that Baloch men and women have always worked together, be it battle field or a farming field. If still anyone thinks Baloch women are being discriminated against anything then we believe they are wrong. Baloch society is a secular and in favour of freedom for women. However letting the women go astray is not freedom. There are limits of everything, same way there are limits to support female freedom. Unnecessary freedom cannot be support which let the women go astray.
Q: There are non-government institutes working on women’s issues in Balochistan. Are you satisfied with their work?
A: No, not at all, because these institutions are funded by the establishment to propagate against our society. We believe most non-government institutes which are working in Balochistan are not sympathetic to the Baluch but they are working on the enemy’s agenda.
Q: Don’t you think it because you and the Baluch nation as a whole have never tried to engage with these non-government institutions. The Baluch have never given any importance to such institutions and stayed away from them instead of expressing their views before these institutes, that is why there is always a sense of mistrust?
A: It is not the Baluch who had stayed away or never engaged with these institutions. The non-government institutions and people working for them have ignored the Baluch. Baloch women have been abducted by the intelligence agencies and are facing humiliations and torture – both mental and physical. Thousands of Baloch sons are missing. There is a continued exploitations going on, state agencies are involved in gross human right violations, but the human rights and non-government institutions have turned a blind eye on all these atrocities. Yet we are the ones to be blamed that we don’t engage. Ghulam Mohammad Baloch and his comrades who were murdered in Turbat town by the state agencies, their wives and children have also suffered a great loss and they are still traumatised. Why these institutions are silent on the death of these Baloch leaders? Thousands of Baloch have been abducted by the state intelligence agencies. Don’t you think they also have mothers, sisters, brothers, and relative but these so called institutions have never met with their families and offered any help to them, why? However whenever there were incidents to defame Baloch Nation, these institutions were at forefront to exaggerate such incidents, they have expanded such issues on behalf of state intelligence agencies. As I said they have never raised their voice against the state atrocities that Pakistan is committing against Baloch Nation. That is why it’s believed that both government and no-government institutions are equality responsible to keep the Baloch women in dark. They want our nation in particular the women to remain unaware of their political rights. These so called institutions take funds in the name of backwardness in Balochistan but use those funds to keep our people further backward and unaware. We will expose any such attempts and counter their propagandas.
Q: Baloch nation and Baloch women are adopting a resistance approach don’t you think the end result will be dangerous?
A: Baloch nation has been living life of slavery from last 60 years. We understand after such a long period of enslavement there no time to think about the end result. We need to spend our time and energy to reach our goal. Growing sense of resistance among Baloch women we understand is a sign of national awareness and determination. We believe that now our destination is not far, the chains of slavery have started to melt down. Today every Baloch has stood up for their liberation. If anyone ‘be that a Baloch or non-Baloch’ tries to be a hurdle in the way of national liberation that will be counted as an enemy of Baloch. The enemies will be treated according to Baloch traditions.
Q: There is an impression that Baloch resistance movements are getting foreign support. As a resistance movement how do you defend yourself?
A: This propaganda is spread by a state (Pakistan) which herself is living on foreign funds. We think the Baluch are fighting for their sovereignty and Baloch struggle for freedom is supported by the masses. If the enemy (s) of our enemy extends the hand of friendship toward the Baluch, Baloch will welcome them. The spokes persons of resistance movements can answer this question precisely but we think this state (Pakistan) has indiscriminately exploited our nations, after all these atrocities and cruelties every patriot Baloch will consider it a sin to think this state is sympathetic to Baloch people. We understand to get rid of this enslavement and brutal state if anyone is willing to help Baloch movement for liberation Baloch should not refuse to accept their help.
Q: Currently in Balochistan people are very much involved in resistance movement but other fields like education, literature, tradition many other pitches seem to be empty. Do you think in these circumstances it’s possible for the Baluch to win the war of National sovereignty?
A: We reject any such impression because those involved in the struggle for national sovereignty are well aware of these facts. None of the field or pitches is empty – maybe less in number but people from different walk of life has stood against the establishment. The state apparatus are trying to put hurdles in the way of national liberation but despite that Baloch youth are proving their loyalty toward their motherland and performing their national duties. While we believe that we need not to leave empty the pitches of education, culture and history but we understand that the only effective and last resort is resistance movement. Without resistance we cannot bring any changes which can serve our National purpose. That is why we appeal to all Baloch intellectuals; writer, historians, and people from all walks of life should be determined and spread the message of resistance to every corner of Balochistan. The Baluch are under attack from all sides, thus; every individual Baloch should perform their responsibilities and prove to be a loyal and patriot Baloch.
Q: The slogan of separatist movement which has been a dream so far. If this dream comes true what will be the next course of action of BWP?
A: Independent Balochistan is not a dream but it’s the desire and aim of Baloch Nation. It is an undeniable fact. If we accept your view for a moment and agree that it is a dream, this dream will come true very soon. We are getting closer to our destination. Our activities after the independence of Balochistan will be - to continue to help our people. Like after buying a house you will spend your time to build and decorate it. The same way Baloch Women Panel will continue to serve Balochistan and Baloch Nation. At the moment our main aim is to get rid of the occupation and we will not hesitate from any kind of sacrifice for this aim.
Q: Apart from organising rallies, protests, and demonstrations have you ever approached those Baloch women who have been displaced from Marri and Bugti area that are now living under appalling conditions in different regions of Sindh including Jafarabad and Naseerabad? Or only two slogans “Zinda bad” and “Murda bad” are your national duties?
A: After the intense military operation in Marri and Bugti areas tens of thousands of people were forced to flee there hometowns. Mostly of these are women and children and they are currently living under open sky receiving no help from the government whatsoever. We feel their pain and understand that they are living in very difficulties conditions. However we publically admit and apologise that we have failed to approach them so far but there are several reason for that. One of the reasons is; it has been a very short time since we set up BWP but in this shot period of time we have done of lot of work according to our capability. We will try our best to approach the forced displaced people from Dera Bugti and Kohlu. We will not only show our sympathy and unity with our sisters and mothers but we will invite them to join our struggle for National liberation, so that we can continue our journey toward the completion of the mission of our leaders and martyrs of nation.
Q: Tell me about the organisational structure of BWP and apart from Quetta where else you have your units?
A: We cannot explain the organisational structure. However we do have a central committee where every member is treated equally. All the members of central committee are taken into account when a decision is made and everyone has the right to express their agreement and disagreement with any decision that we take. For obvious reasons we cannot go into details of our activities but we do arrange meeting on monthly bases and we work steadfastly. We have several units in Quetta and apart from Quetta we have united of our likeminded mothers and sisters in Mach, Turabt, Mand, Awaran and several other districts in Balochistan, where our units are actively working to make aware more and more Baloch women about their national rights and national struggle.
Talking about Baloch culture Mehr Jan Baloch said that media and NGOs are playing down Baloch traditions and culture. Firstly; they do not know about our traditional and cultural structure. Secondly; they are conspiring against Baloch traditions. There is no room for narrow-mindedness and exploitation in Baloch culture. Psychologically Baloch are secular but do not believe in unnecessary freedom. Women are not only highly respected but they are given equal rights according to Baloch traditions. Burying women alive is not a part of Baloch culture and traditions at all. If there were any such traditions then Mai Hani and Mahnaz would have been buried alive, thus it is proved that the establishment is playing this drama to play down the Baloch cultural and traditional values. Talking about the role of Baloch women in Baloch society Mehr Jan Baloch gave the example of Mir Chakar –e-Azam’s sister Banari who fought alongside her brother in Dehli battle field.
She said currently Baloch are under siege of superior power (Punjab) that has imposed their language, culture and traditions on us. All Baloch men, women, elderly and young are under the siege of this dominating power that is why it is duty of every Baloch to fight against these powers. She said Baloch enemy is extremely clever, yet shameless. The enemy is attacking us from all side. That is why the Baluch need to unite and we must leave no stone unturned to counter enemy’s war against our Nation.
Talking about Sardari system she said that our struggle is for a secular Baloch society. We are not trying to protect any Sardar of Nawab neither we are struggling to keep anyone’s Sardari. She explained that in Baloch tribal societies Sardars are selected through democratic and unanimous consensus. A sardar will make his decisions according to Baloch traditions. Sardar cannot impose his decision on anyone. Baloch Nation has never accepted anyone’s imposition. That is why today Baloch Nation is struggling against Pakistani imposition. Baloch Nation has decided that they will not render from any sacrifice for national liberation. The growing resistance movement is proving that Baloch are getting closer to their destination.
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