(Pakistan in the World media having historical work on China and CPEC, is publishing this article in good faith because we have been writing and speaking on the benefits of CPEC for last 14 years and we wish success of this flagship project of BRI as we understand that it is game changer for Pakistan and China both : Tazeen Akhtar Editor)
It is no doubt a good news and encouraging development for CPEC 02 that Gwader Airport started flights from 20 Jan but many other things are going on side by side that are disturbing and that should be seen accordingly before it is too late.
Gwader is international airport and its start up is appreciative but it is also a matter of fact that the leaders of both countries Pakistan and China were not present at the airport both times , earlier for inauguration in mid Oct last year and now on receiving the first flight PK-749 that took off from Islamabad on Friday at 12:10 pm, utilizing a Boeing 777 (AP-BGK) aircraft. The flight carried 330 passengers and 14 crew members.
Gwader is in Balochistan and this province provides the culmination to the CPEC. Lets see what is the status of this province and Gwader with the eyes of the local people. Presently Jamaat e Islami is leading the locals. Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Balochistan Province and member of Balochistan Assembly Maulana Hidayat Rahman hails from Gwader. He is leading Haqq Do Tehreek (Give our Right Movement) from Gwader into whole Balochistan for long.
Now the movement has been launched in the neighboring province of Sindh only a couple of days before Gwader airport started flights. Top leaders of Jamaat e Islami gathered at Karachi Press Club and drew attention of the decision makers towards their reservations and burning problems in Balochistan.
Amir Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman and Maulana Hidayat Rahman were present at the occasion and shared their views on CPEC, its benefits to the people of the Province and what they said deteriorating situation there.
Jamaat e Islami. the only the best organized religious/political party of Pakistan thinks that the people of Balochistan have not been shared with the benefits of CPEC. The rulers and the establishment should change their policy regarding Balochistan. The people must be given their rights. If the people of Balochistan are given respect and their rights, they will prove to be more patriotic.
This party believes that , to solve the problems of Balochistan, the rulers should talk to the real leadership of Balochistan instead of those with Form 47. Form 47 sitting in the assembly of Balochistan are not the representatives of the people. Commission on Missing Persons should be activated, use of force should be stopped and missing persons should be recovered. If someone is a terrorist or a criminal, he should be triled according to the constitution and law and through the courts.
Balochistan can manage solar energy for the entire country. The minerals in Balochistan have been handed over to a few chieftains from which the rulers are taking advantage. There are many natural resources, minerals and treasures in Balochistan, but the eyes of the rulers are on the treasures and they do not give respect and rights to the people. There is no motorway from Quetta to Karachi due to which 8 thousand people die in accidents every year.
JI leaders say that there are many natural resources, minerals and treasures in Balochistan, but the eyes of the rulers are on the treasures and they do not give respect and rights to the people. If 20 percent of the minerals found in Balochistan are given to the people of Balochistan, the province will develop and so will Pakistan. The race and competition of corruption is going on between the rulers of Balochistan and Sindh.
JI leadership is angry because they have to prove their identity 5 times a day in Balochistan province that they are Pakistanis. Pakistan will not be stable until the desecration of the honor of household walls is stopped. The rulers of Islamabad have the same attitude towards Balochistan as they had towards the people of East Pakistan. Balochistan’s gold, silver, gas, coal are owned by the people of Balochistan and they should get it.
The people of Balochistan want our mothers to be honored, the youth to be given right to grow and have equal opprtunities in employment. The mothers of Balochistan are crying to return their children. JI suggest to the rulers, if they want stability in the country with the force of guns and use of power, then force has always been defeated. Balochistan is ours, not the gunmen’s, we will manage Balochistan ourselves.
Balochistan has many opportunities for mineral development but is not allowed to work. In 1950, gas was produced in the province of Balochistan, which is distributed to all provinces, but as is not supplied to the people of Balochistan itself. A major part of Pakistan’s development should be spent in Balochistan province.
These are the sentiments expressed by the Jamaat e Islami leaders in Karachi. Most of the journalists working on Pak China and CPEC can not write or speak on such delicate issues only to safe their relations and interest there. But the fact and truth can not be pushed under the carpet like dirt. If one can not speak , others speak and you have to listen and learn what are the ground realities at spot. This helps you devise your strategies and eliminate hurdles in your way. Therefore , these reservations deserve due attention of the policy makers.
( Note: Jamaat e Islami is mainstream party having representation in assemblies and the senate of Pakistan. It is not Balochistan Liberation Army or Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan )
