Friday, September 20, 2024

Glimpses of People's history, An interview with researcher Dr Naila Pervaiz

 


Glimpses of People's history

An interview with researcher Dr Naila Pervaiz


 ساڈی سکالرشپ وچ کیہڑی گلاں جے جنہاں دی لوڑ جے ایس بارے اک گل بات، تسی سنو تےہوورے تسی وی سوچو کہ نکے وڈے جھگڑیاں دی تھاں سانوں کن باتاں ول زیادہ دھیان دین دی لوڑ جے۔ اسی آپدے پنجابی وسیب تے اوس دے آل دوال بارے ہلے جھات مارنی شروع وی نہیں کیتی۔نائلہ ہوراں کجھ کم کیتا تے بہوں کم دے ارادے جے۔اجکل ایہہ حبیب یونیورسٹی کراچی نال جڑے جےکہ ہوورے اوہ سندھی پنجابی جوگی صوفی ریت بارے سندھ وچ رہندے بہوں کم کر سکدیاں جے۔




Click and watch a video clip of Naila Pervaiz while presenting her paper at Lyallpur History Conference 26-27 August 2024

Naila Pervaiz from Habib University Karachi sharing her thoughts about women issues in Punjabi poetry since more than 500 years at Layalpur history confere, 2024.



Listen Interview of Nalia Pervaiz aired at MastFM103 Punjabi Radio Program Lok Lhar at 20th September 2024

https://voca.ro/1mY0zFMT7P7n



With a friend


The Conference 


Further readings



Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Comrade Tufail Abbas Interview and few thoughts

 



Comrade Tufail Abbas

Interview and few thoughts 

1928-2019

Here you can read few excerpts of Interview I did in late 2005 at Karachi with Comrade Tufail Abbas, published in a left magazine Awami Jumhori Forum in its 26th issue (Jan 2006). AJK was a Lhore based magazine and in that magazine we published more than 30 interviews including few Bangladeshi and Indian comrades. Soon we will upload all 53 issues ONLINE so readers can access it easily. 


Title of 26th Issue

ساڈے خطہ وچ کھبے دی سیاستاں دی تواریخ 1920 دی دہائی توں ہی شروع ہوجاندی ہے تے جے تسی ایس توں پہلاں چلو تے19ویں صدی دے اخیری دہاکیاں توں چلدی منظم اینٹی کالونیل لہر نوں ایس دی شان نزول کہنا غلط نہ ہوئے گا جس دا احوال اجیت سنگھ دی کتاب سنے کئی ہور کتاباں وچ لکھی جا چکی ہے۔ انہاں نال نبڑن لئی انگریزاں 1901 توں ساڈے خطہ لئی اک وڈا انٹیلی جنس نیٹ ورک بنانا شروع کیتا کہ جس وچ 1909 تیک امریکی وی رل گئے۔ایہہ اوہی ویلہ سی جداں عالمی پدر اتے یورپی خطے وچ انگریزاں لئی جرمن  اک نویں سر پیڑ بن چکی سی۔ پہلی وڈی لام وچ جو 1914 توں 1918 تیک جاری رہی، انگریزاں جرمناں نوں تھلے لا لیا پر دوجے بنے روس سرخ ہو گیا تے ایہہ لالی ساڈے تیک وی 1922 تیک اپڑ گئی۔ دادا امیر حیدر، دادا فیروز الدین منصور، ایم این رائے، ڈانگے، مجید لہوری  سانوںسنے  کئی نام ملدے جے جس وچ 1947 تیک ڈھیر وادھے ہوئے۔ جداں 1949 تیک طفیل عباس سرخے ہوئے تے اوس ویلے تیک فضل الہی قربان، ایرک سپرین، خواجہ مسعود، صفدر میر، سی آر اسلم سنے کئی کامریڈ ایتھے متحرک سن۔ ایہہ پکی گل کہ اوس ویلے تیک کومونسٹ پارٹی آف انڈیا کوئی منظم جماعت نہیں سی۔جنج فروری 1948 دی کومونسٹ کانگرس وچ کومونسٹ پارٹی آف پاکستان بنائی گئی تے اوس دا سیکٹری جنرل سجاد ظہیر نوں بنایا گیا اس سب تے بہوں سارے کامریڈاں نوں اس ویلے وی اعتراض سن۔ ایس ول کھلے اشارے طفیل عباس وی کیتا ہے۔پاکستانی کومونسٹاں تے پہلا وار 1949 وچ ہویا جداں لہور وچ ترقی پسند مصنفین دی پہلا اکٹھ لارنس گارڈن کیتا گیا۔ چیرت رہے کہ کومونسٹ پارٹی آف پاکستان دا ہیڈکواٹر یعنی مرکزی دفتر وی لہور وچ لیڈی فضل حسین بلڈنگ میکلورڈ روڈ (ٹیشن نیڑے) سی۔ پارٹی تے دوجا وار پنڈی سازش کیس ڈرامہ سی تے تریجا وار 1954 وچ ہویا جداں جون تے جولائی وچ کونسٹ پارٹی آف ویست اتے ایسٹ پاکستان تے پابندیاں لائیاں گیاں۔ ایس بعد کجھ سال تے دادا فیروز الدین منصور، میجر اسحاق وغیرہ پارٹی زیرزمین چلادے رہے پر 1960 دی دہائی دے پہلے سالاں وچ وکھری ٹہانیاں بنن لگیاں۔ایسے وچوں اک طفیل عباس دا کومونسٹ گروپ وی سی۔ ایس انترویو توں پتہ چلدا ہے کہ اک پاسے بورذوا یعنی سرمایہ دارانہ سیاست نوں مکمل مسترد کیتا گیا پر دوجے پاسے کئی بورژوا پارٹیاں وچ کومونسٹ کم وی کردے رہے۔ تسی ایہہ ٹوٹے پڑھو تے گویڑ آپ لاو


انڈین کومونسٹاں تے مزدور لہر بارے طفیل عباس دے خیال

نیشنل عوامی پارٹی 1957 وچ بنائی گئی سی جس وچ قوم پرست، ترقی پسند تے کومونسٹ رلتی سن، ایہہ پارٹی 1966 وچ روس چین جھگڑے بعد دو حصیاں وچ ونڈی گئی سی کہ ایس پارٹی دے سب توں وڈے لیڈر مولانا بھاشانی سن جو چین نواز سن۔ ایس ٹٹ بھج نے پاکستان تے بھارت جہے ملکاں وچ لیفٹ دی طاقتاں نوں کمزور کیتا۔ بورژوا سیاست وچ کومونسٹ 1947 توں پہلاں وی کم کردے رہے کہ کانگرس تے مسلم لیگ وچ کئی کومونسٹ گئے۔ 1942 وچ انڈین کومونسٹ پارٹی تے انگریزاں اوس ویلے مجورا پابندی چکی سی جداں عالمی پدر تے سویت یونین عرف روس امریکہ تے برطانیہ نال دوجی لام وچ اتحادی بنیا سی۔ پر انڈین برٹش ریاست دے ہرکارے کومونسٹ مخالفت دی تربیتاں توں لیس سن جس دا اظہار 1949 توں تریخ وچ موجود ہے کہ انڈیا وچ پنڈت نہرو تے پاکستان وچ لیاقت علی خان دے دور وچ اینٹی کومونسٹ مائنڈ سیٹ دے ہیٹھ ماردھاڑ کیتی گئی۔ بورژوا سیاست کرن والی پارٹیاں وچ وڑ کے کم کرنا چاہیدا ہے یا نہیں ایہہ اوہ سوال ہے جس تے گل اج وی لوڑی دی ہے

نیپ بناون بارے 

پیپلزپارٹی لئی


بلدیاتی الیکشن وچ حصہ لینا



پیپلز پارٹی لئی کم کرنا پر اپنے کامریڈاں نوں الیکشن لڑن توں ڈکنا


بورژوا سیاست توں انکار


بھارتی کومونسٹ پارٹیاں وی بورژوا قرار


کومونسٹاں تے قوم پرستاں وچ اتحاد تے لڑائیاں


بھٹو تے طفیل عباس، کجھ گلاں مڑ سمجھن دی لوڑ جے

ایہہ آرٹیکل بھٹو وی پڑھیا تے پھیر اختلافات ودھ گئے، معراج محمد خان اپنے کئی قسطاں والے آن لائن موجود انٹرویو وچ دسیا ہے کہ بھٹو نے 1972 وچ معراج دا استعفی منور کردے ہوئے کہیا سی کہ ایس ملک وچ ترے چار وار الیکشن ہون گے 
تاں تہاڈے مطالبیاں دی سنی جائے گی پر کامریڈ ہورے جلدی وچ سن۔


انٹری ازم کیہہ اک ستھری پالیسی ہے؟
بورژوا پارٹیاں وچ نہ جانا اک ہور مسلہ ہے پر بورژوا پارٹیاں وچ ''انٹری ازم'' نال تھاں بنانا کیہہ کوئی ستھری پالیسی ہے؟ ایس پالیسی وچ سازش دے روپ وچ ورتنا آسان ہوندا ہے جنج طفیل ہوراں دسیا کہ حنیف رامے وغیرہ اوس آرٹیکل نوں ورتیا۔ پر اوہ آرٹیکل لکھن والا وی ایہو گل کسی ہور انداز وچ کر سکدا سی۔ ایہہ کم نرے کومونسٹاں ہی نہیں سگوں دھرمی تے فرقو نظریاتی پارٹیاں وی کیتا۔ ایس پاروں اک پاسے تسی اپنی وکھری جماعت بنون توں رہ جاندے ہو تے دوجے پاسے جس پارٹی وچ تسی وڑدے ہو اتھے تہانوں مجورا برداشت کیتا جاندا ہے تے کومونسٹاں تے شک کیتا جاندا ہے۔ کومونسٹاں نوں کانگرس، مسلم لیگ تے 1947 بعد نیب، عوامی لیگ تے پیپلزپارٹی وچ ایس انٹری ازم نال کیہہ ملیا؟آر ایس ایس پہلے کانگرس پھیر بی جے پی وچ انٹری ازم کیتا پر سو سال وچ اپنی پہچان نہ بنا سکی۔ انٹری ازم والی پارٹیاں اخیر اوہ نرسریاں ہی رہندیاں جے جو بندے فراہم کر سکن۔ ایہہ مسلہ نرا طفیل ہوراں دا نہیں سگوں ایہہ گل انٹری ازم دے پورے فنامن نوں سمجھن تے پالیسی پدر تے سوچن دی ہے کہ اے، بی، سی وچ نہ پھسو بلکہ اگے دی گل سوچو۔ساڈے سامنے ورکر پارٹی بنی،ایس توں پہلے وی 1990 دی دہائی توں اینج دی پارٹیاں بنیاں جنہاں وچ اک توں وادھو دھڑے رلے مگر کم چلیا نہیں۔ایس دی دو پردھان وجوہات سن کہ ماضی دے تعصب تے تفاخر بارے تھلے دی پدر تے گل کیتے بغیر بنن والی پارٹی ضلعیاں وچ اوس سپرٹ توں فارغ رہندی تے دوجی وجہ انٹری ازم والی پالیسی نوں وی غلط نہ سمجھیا تے انہاں نویں پارٹیاں وچ وی انٹری ازم جاری رکھیا۔ لنگھ چکے ماضی بارے کھل کے گل کرنی، اتے تھلے دی پدر تک ایس نوں لیجانا اک اہم قدم سی کہ نرے سر جڑن نال پارٹیاں نہیں بن سکدیاں۔ پھیر ایسے فورم بنانا وی لوڑی دا سی جتھے سارے لیفٹ والے جو گروپاں وچ شامل جے تے جو نہیں وی جے انہاں نال اختلافات دا احترام کردے ہوئے گل بات چلائی  جائے۔ 



باقی پھیر








Saturday, September 7, 2024

Let us talk about Kids, schooling & healthy environment

 

Educational Psychologist Asma Naheed thoughts


Punjabi Radio program Lok Lhar 6 September 2024

MastF103, Lhore

Guest  Dr Asma Naheed Educational Psychologist 


"Education has been a perennial challenge in Pakistan since its inception, and even after 77 years, the country's education systems - including private, public, and religious institutions - continue to face numerous shortcomings. Despite these hurdles, dedicated individuals are striving to elevate the standards of schools and students. That is the story of Asma Naheed. For this program credit goes to Sabiha Shaheen of Bargad 

Asama Naheed is founder of Hope and Light ...their mission is 


A video clip of the program 


Another clip, Asma is sharing her thoughts







Friday, September 6, 2024

Religious par excellence but against hate speech: An Interview with Pashaura Singh

 



Religious par excellence but against Hate Speech

 An Interview with Pashaura Singh

For MastFM103 & BarahMah Lhore


I met Professor Pashaura Singh at International Layalpur History Conference 2024 at Faisalabad where I too presented my paper Anti-colonial Struggle in subcontinent: What went wrong?  After the conference, he stayed for 3 days in Lhore and with the help of Khola Cheema I interviewed him. 


A video clip of the interview

Click and Watch






Listen the recording of the Punjabi Radio program Lok Lhar,
An exclusive interview of Professor Pashaura Singh at Lhore Click and Listen it


After listening his (Professor Pashaura Singh) talk/interview one may realise that the pertinent issue is not the religion itself but issue is hate speech, respect for human rights and space for the dialogue. If these things are missing even ideology becomes a dogma. Examples of various left groups is good to understand the phenomenon. 



Further readings

An article about History Conference

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

مہاتما کدی غلط تے نہیں ہو سکدا۔

 


مہاتما کدی غلط تے نہیں ہو سکدا۔

اک نکا لیکھ۔۔ عامر ریاض

پہلے چوہدراہٹ لین لئی رج کے سٹیبلشمنٹ دی جائز ناجائز خدمت کیتی، فوجی بھرتیاں کروائیاں، جنگی تمغے لتے، جنگ جتوسٹیبلشمنٹ مکر گئی تے خدمت والی غلطی منن دی تھاں یو ٹرن لیندے بلیک میلنگ شروع کردتی،ایس نوں مزاحمتاں تے عوامی سیاستاں دا چولا پایا، جس سٹیبلشمنٹ دی خدمتاں کیتیاں اوس نوں وعدہ توڑن والاتے کہیا پر اپنی غلطی نہ منی، مار دھاڑ، دھرنے شروع کر دتے، عدم تشدد دی چھتری ہیٹھ تشدد ودھایا، بچے مروائے، بائیکاٹ کیتا،ہجوم بپھریا تے چورا چوری وچ تھانہ سنے 20 پلس والیاں ساڑ دتا، مہاتما تحریک لپیٹ دتی پر غلطی نہ منی، ایس دوران پارٹی دے کئی ٹوٹے ہوئے، الیکشن بائیکاٹ کیتے تے اوہ وی پٹھے پئے، آزادی دے نعرے وی لائے پر مہاتما خدمتاں کر کے چوہدراہٹ لین تے پھیر بلیک میلنگ والی غلطی نہ منی، مہاتما کدی غلط تے نہیں ہو سکدا۔ جواہر لال پارٹی نوں مڑ کھڑا کیتا، گاندھی مخالف کانگرسیاں نوں رام کیتا، پارٹی مڑ جوڑی۔۔۔ مہاتما دے چیلیاں پھیلایا کہ عوام مہاتما دے نال ہے، مہاتما برٹش راج دے خلاف ہے۔۔۔ پر مہاتما مارچ 1931 نوں بھگت سنگھ دی پھانسی دا سودا انگریز وائسرائےلارڈ اروون نال گاندھی ارون پیکٹ نال کیتا۔1932 وچ کمیونل ایوارڈ راہیں پنجابی تے بنگالی مسلماناں نوں کجھ سیٹاں واپس ملیاں پر مہاتما مرن بھرت (بھک ہڑتال) دی بلیک میلنگ کردے ہوئے شیڈیول کاسٹاں دی سیٹاں دے حق تے ڈاکہ ماریا۔1937 وچ کانگرس کل 1585 صوبائی سیٹاں وچوں ادھی وی نہ جتیاں، پنجاب، سندھ تے بنگال وچ کانگرس بری طرح پٹ گئی، آسام وچ 108 وچوں نری 33، صوبہ سرحد(خیبر پختونخوا) وچ خدائی خدمتگاراں دی مدد نال وی 50 وچوں 19 سیٹاں ملیاں پر پارٹی رعونت وکھاندے ہوئے آپ نوں برٹش انڈیا دی مقبول ترین پارٹی اکھوان لگی۔11 وچوں گٹھ جوڑ نال 8 صوبیاں وچ سرکاراں بنایاں تے جناح دے مفاہتی خطاں نوں لفٹ نہ کروائی۔ ایس رعونت پاروں ایہہ تجزیہ نہ کر سکے کہ مسلم اکثریتی صوبیاں وچ کیوں ہارے؟ نہ تے سیکولر پنجابی جماعت یونینسٹ پارٹی نال رابطہ کیتا تے نہ ہی خلافت تے کرشک پرجا پارٹی دے اے کے فضل الحق نال ملے، رعونت ہی بہوں سی، 

۔۔سگوں ایتھے مسلم ماس کانٹیکٹ ورگی گھٹیا مہماں چلائیاں، مسلم اقلیتی صوبیاں وچ ''چٹیا راج'' چلاندے ہوئے ہندوستانی دی تھاں ہندی چلائی تے بندے ماترم دا چکر چلایا،اقتدار ملن بعدانگریزاں دی مڑ خدمتاں کردے ہوئے ڈیفنس آف انڈیا ایکٹ (1915) وچ فوجی بھرتی مخالفاں نوں نپن والی ترمیم 8وں صوبیاں توں پاس کروایا۔کومونسٹاں تے احرایاں سنےجنہاں ایس ترمیم خلاف جلوس کڈے انہاں نوں کانگرسی وزارتاں وچ گرفتار کیتا گیا حلانکہ اوہ کانگرسی اتحادی سن۔ایہو نہیں سگوں مہاتما دی آگوائی وچ مولانا آزاد تے برلا مل کے کانگرس دے صدر تے مہان بنگالی ترقی پسند سبھاش چندر بوس نوں صدارت توں کڈوایا۔ پھیر جداں دوجی لام شروع ہوئی تے صوبائی حکومتاں توں استعفے دیندے ہوئے برٹش سرکار نوں بلیک میل کرن لئی پھیریوٹرن لے لتا۔ ہٹلر کجھ فتوحات کیتیاں تے مہاتما ہٹلر دے حق وچ قرارداد لے آیا کہ نہرو بڑی مشکل اوس قرارداد نوں ڈکیا پر ایہہ ڈبل گیم وی کم نہ آئی۔استعفیاں تے ہٹلری قرارداد والی بلیک میلنگ نہ چلی تے کانگرس تن تنہا ''انڈیا چھڈو'' لہر وچ چھال لا دتی پر ایہہ نہ منیا کہ فوجی بھرتی والی ترمیم وی ایسے کانگرس منظورکروائی سی۔مہاتما کہیا کہ بھارت ماتا دی ونڈ منظور نہیں پر جداں کابینہ مشن نے ونڈ ڈ کن تے صوبیاں نوں تگڑا کرن والا پلان دتا تے عملی پدر تے مہاتما کابینہ مشن مسترد کردے ہوئے ونڈ من لتی تے پارٹی 3 جون پلان تے دستخطی ہوئی۔ونڈ بعدوں ونڈ کروان دے الزام وچ اک ونڈ مخالف ہندو دھرمی نوجوان ہتھوں مہاتما ماریا گیا۔


Sunday, June 9, 2024

Indian Elections (1952-2024): Trends, Games & Lessons

 


Indian Elections (1952-2024)

Trends, Games & Lessons 


There are lessons in the rise of Modi but don't putt all the blame on RSS only, as it is practice by some over smart intellectuals but try to look inside first.  The pertinent issue is not the victory of any party but the presence of narrow nationalism not only in India but also in the region. Till today, Congress did not accept its faults starting from rejection of the CMP & demand for communal partition of the Punjab & Bengal to use of RSS first against Portuguese in 1950s and then against Pakistan especially after 1965.  It is a reality that Anti India campaigns in Pakistan and Anti Pakistan campaigns in India strengthen the narrow nationalism based on religion extensively across borders.

After completion of 18th election in India or Bharat it is high time to revisit  post independence Indian Election history, analysis trends, power politics, nation building challenges, election process, electoral democracy and lessons. Its important to understand why Congress who won 10 out of 18 elections in last 77 years including 5 consecutive victories till 1978, failed in defeating BJP 3rd time. Its 2nd time that BJP won 3 consecutive elections. The pertinent issue is not victory of any party but presence of narrow nationalism not only in India but also in the region.Why we have narrow nationalists like Modi/BJP/RSS in India and Taliban & others in Pakistan? Large number of Hindus left Bangladesh since its birth is a case we often missed due to other priorities.It is essential to understand rise of narrow nationalism based on religion. Is it due to post 1947 nation building rhetoric adopted and build against ''Others''in the region.  

Interestingly, Pakistan and India adopted British styled parliamentary democracy and adult franchise from the beginning but both were less prepared for electoral reforms. Since late 1980s Indian Election Commission got powers yet in recent election it failed to check hate speech. Since last two elections many Indians raised voices against EC, its neutrality etc yet Congress is also responsible for that weakness of EC too.

Till today, Congress did not accept its faults started from rejection of the CMP & demand for communal partition of the Punjab & Bengal to use of RSS first against Portuguese in 1950s and than against Pakistan especially after 1965, it is a reality that Anti India campaigns in Pakistan and Anti Pakistan campaigns in India strengthen the narrow nationalism based on religion extensively across borders. 

Its also a fact that both countries due to different reasons ignored the impact of communal partition of the Punjab (almost 80% causalities', displacement, abductions recorded in the British Punjab's 10 to 11 districts). It was not partition of India but it was Partition of the Punjab yet due to the absence of the core issue, it remains hard to resolve Pak India conflict in general. it is also important to check the fact that at federal level unlike Pakistan, why India always have a weak opposition? in 77 years. What happened before 1947 is important yet what we did under nation building project after 1947 in last 77 years is more vital to revisit. Any way, listen the program yourself

RSS banned after killing of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948 but ban lifted next year when a high powered commision said that RSS was not involved.  It means that either Congress played with the issue or the RSS had roots in Indian establishment. Interestingly RSS was banned thrice but due to its inroads within establishment or due to its supporters within Congress it recovered again and again. 

 It was banned at 24 Jan 1947 for only four days by the weak, rather A-political congress supported Premier of Punjab Khizar Hayat Tiwana along with Muslim National Guard and then thrice by the post-independence Indian governments, first in 1948 when Nathuram Godse, an erstwhile member of RSS, assassinated Mahatma Gandhi; then during the Emergency (1975–1977); and for a third time after the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992. In the 21st century, it is the world's largest far-right organisation by membership. Like jihadis in Pakistan, RSS had a special position in Indian statecraft. But till today Congress and its so-called intellectuals cum promoters are largely in the state of denial regarding that naked truth. 

The RSS opposed Tri color national flag and demanded saffron Bhagwa Dhwaj then RSS opposed Indian constitution too but soon the same party got attention against Portuguese by powerful circles. The capture of Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Maharashtra) gave a boost to the movement against Portuguese colonial rule in the Indian subcontinent. In 1955, RSS leaders demanded the end of Portuguese rule in Goa and its integration into India. Finally after a military action the Governor of Portuguese India signed the Instrument of Surrender on 19 December 1961, Resolving border issues in such way promoted narrow nationalism too

A video of protest against Portuguese 1955

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/f/f1/Goa_1955_invasion.ogv/Goa_1955_invasion.ogv.360p.webm

Link of the complete radio program, Click & Listen it


The results indicated that Mr. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, or B.J.P., would still win by far the most parliamentary seats, and that he would become only the second Indian leader to start a third straight term. But his party appeared likely to lose a significant number of seats in Parliament, meaning it would need to rely on smaller parties in its coalition to form a government. The outcome was a surprising setback for the B.J.P. New York Times June 2024



July 27, 1953: Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Minister of #India, arrived at the Governor General House in #Karachi. He is seen here alongside Governor General of #Pakistan Malik Ghulam Muhammad, Prime Minister Mohammad Ali Bogra and Dr Mohan Sinha Mehta, the Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan. Standing at the extreme left is Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Prime Minister Nehru’s sister and a one-time friend of Mr Jinnah. — The Malik Ghulam Muhammad Archives https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2197670716924661&set=a.560245220667227

27 July 1953, PM Nehru visited Pakistan but why Nehru failed to achieve regional peace? Nehru again visited Pakistan in 1960 to signe World Bank supported Indus Water Treaty. During Sino Indian conflict 1962, under US pressure Pakistan remained neutral, in response India formed a committee to resolve Kashmir conflict yet instead of creating peace both countries went for war. It was beginning of Cold War between two countries  that boosted narrow nationalisms based on religion and rest is history.  


Pakistan India Bangladesh are electoral democracies in general where hate speech and narrow nationalisms are order of the day. There is less room for equal citizenship rights. Their economies are largely dependent on undocumented wealth and on top of it these issues are absent in the politics. 

 


Sunday, May 19, 2024

Target Killings of Punjabis in Baloch areas near Iran & around Gwadar. Who is behind it?

 

Target Killings of Punjabis in Baloch areas near Iran & around Gwadar. Who is behind it?

گوادر میں مزدوروں کے قتل میں ملوث کالعدم بلوچستان لبریشن آرمی (بی ایل اے) کے 2 دہشتگردوں  کو گرفتار کرلیا گیا۔

کوئٹہ میں وزیرداخلہ بلوچستان ضیاء لانگو کے ہمراہ پریس کانفرنس کرتے ہوئے ڈی آئی جی سی ٹی ڈی کا کہنا تھاکہ گرفتاردونوں دہشت گردوں کا تعلق کالعدم بی ایل اے  سے ہے اور مزدوروں کے قتل میں ملوث دونوں دہشت گرد گوادر سے گرفتار ہوئے۔

31 May 2024

Is this will resolve the issue? Rethink

Who is behind the target killings of Punjabi workers in Balochistan? Who are the beneficiaries of that policy? Keeping an eye on last 46 years narratives, especially in post cold war world, the epicenter of conflict shifted from Pak Afghan border to Baloch areas, a hub of Chinese investment (CPEC) and neighbour of Iran. The shift also change the blame game strategy from Afghan immigrants to Punjabi, Sindhi & Hazra smartly. Some over smart intellectuals tries to justify the shift by linking it with blatant murder of   Nawab Akbar Bhugti (Killed at 26 August 2006) because it serves many international as well as local power brokers well. We as progressive Punjabis always stood in our capacity against bad policies of establishment but continuous target killings of Punjabis in Balochistan compelled us to revisit the narrative and raise it too. Mir Ghose Baksh Bazenjo once said that we Balochs are numerically very less in Pakistan and that is why we need a support base of Baloch national question in Lhore & Karachi, hence Bloch national question must link with democratic struggle in Pakistan. (Quoted by B M Kutti in his book) But target killing of Punjabis (in few cases target killings of Sindhis, Hazara) has reduced the support for Baloch national question. In below, you can yourself check that many human right organizations like Human Rights WatchHuman Rights Commission of Pakistan accepted the target killings of Punjabis in their reporting, many local as well as international media groups like Dawn, Tribune, Aljazeera, DW, BBC etc too reported it but they either mentioned Bhugti Backlash or linked Punjabis with bad policies of establishment, in a way , very close to justify it. They hardly give reference of international game nor mention blame game shift in narrative from Afghan immigrants. Reports & reporting examples are given in below.  We the progressives knew very well that who was the Akbar Bhugti and what was his politics, he always stood nakedly with bad policies of establishment. No doubt that a dictator had killed him blatantly but after 26th August 2006, his killing was used for the shifting of epicentre too and it suited not only the big international players but also those who were against Afghan immigrants during cold war but in post cold war times that fugitive element (as we use to say in 1980s, 90s) consider as an assert in many ways. Here lies the foundations of unholy alliance against Punjabi settlers in Baloch areas. It is often reported in media that

''no target killings are reported in the province’s Pashtun-dominated areas, including Musakhel, Zhob, Loralai, Ziarat, Pishin, Harnai and Sibi''.

''Most target killing and terrorism incidents are reported in the districts of Quetta, Mastung, Bolan, Noshki, Kalat, Khuzdar, Kech, Gwadar, Lasbela and Panjgur. Four types of target killings are reported in Balochistan: Attacks on people who have settled in the province, assassinations of policemen and Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, sectarian killings and murders of political workers'' (reference is given below)

We always supported extra judicial killings in Pakistan but it is not limited to State only, mu Baloch & Pukhtoon friends accepted the fact that as nationalists we are not very vocal against target killing of the Punjabis and that fact is, due to other reasons, present very much among various sections of civil society in general. Unlike few Punjabi nationalists I will not blame all common Balochs or other communities for this intellectual hooliganism at all  but as progressive and human right activist we must have courage to call a spade a spade. 

Pakistan is multinational, multilinguistic, multi faith federation where Punjabis are more than 69% but it has a bad centralized legacy. Authoritarianism is part of Statecraft as well as part of culture too. In last 76 years, thanks to politicians we have a constitution as well as 18th amendment along with NFC award but still we are struggling for electoral democracy that is not the goal but an essential stopover to move towards decentralized federation based on respect for all inhabitants (either national or immigrants) living in the territorial boundaries of Pakistan. We cannot achieve it alone, as in the political & democratic struggle we have follow the mantra, united we stand divided we fall. 

Dawn 09 May 2024

Seven barbershop workers were killed and one was injured on Thursday in Surbandar, Gwadar when unknown gunmen entered their residential quarters and opened fire on them while they were sleeping, police officials said.

Arab News 09 May 2024

In April, the proscribed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the killings of nine Punjab residents traveling to Iran from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan. In another incident last month, two Punjabi garage workers were targeted.

German media reported  in GW as

According to police official Mohsin Ali, gunmen stormed into a house some 25 kilometers (15 miles) east of the port city of Gwadar, and shot the workers while they were asleep. The coastal town of Gwadar is the site of several Beijing-backed projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor investment, which is part of the Belt and Road Initiative. 09 May 2024


Nation 12 April 2024

Noshki Deputy Commissioner says over a dozen gunmen stopped a bus on Quetta-Taftan highway, abducted nine passengers after identifying their NICs & President, PM, Punjab CM strongly condemn killing of passengers n Funeral prayers of victims offered in Quetta, bodies dispatched to native towns in Punjab.

Samma 28 April 2024

Two more Punjabi labourers gunned down in Turbat, Balochistan This is the second incident in a month of Punjabis killings in Balochistan

Nation 15 October 2023

Terrorists kill six Punjab residents in Balochistan’s Turbat

Union of Catholic Asian News 14 April 2023 

Killing of a Punjabi Christian sweeper

Baloch Liberation Army, an ethnic-nationalist militant group, said they killed 55-year-old Pervaiz Masih because he was “spying for Pakistani intelligence agencies posing as a government employee.” Masih, a father of four from Punjab province, had been working as a sweeper for the state-run Irrigation Department and Turbat Municipal Corporation.

Tribune 15 November 2017

Bullet-riddled bodies of at least 15 men were found by the Levies from Buleda area of Kech district near the Pakistan-Iran border of Gurok. The banned Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), headed by Allah Nazar Baloch, has claimed responsibility for the killings of the 15 men from Punjab, supposedly aspiring to enter Europe illegally.

Aljazeera 11 April 2015

Armed men have attacked a dam construction site in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, killing at least 20 workers and wounding three, according to a senior government official.

Newsweek 20 Oct 2014

The gunmen stormed a poultry farm in the early hours of Sunday in Hub, kidnapping 11 laborers, according to senior local administration official Fawad Soomro, who said the hostages were then questioned over their ethnicities. “They blindfolded the nine workers belonging to Punjab province and shot them while setting the two Baloch workers free,” he said. He added that the freed Baloch workers made their way to a local police station to report the crime.

DFI 07 August 2013

All those passengers were shot to death by the culprits, he said. He further told that all the murdered persons belonged to Sadiqabad, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, Faisalabad, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur areas of Punjab.

 

Times of India 14 August 2010

Gunmen shot dead at least 16 people of Punjabi-origin in two separate incidents of ethnic killings in the insurgency-hit Balochistan province in southwest Pakistan on Saturday.



First school in our areas near Gwadar was built by father in 1950s whose headmaster was a Punjabi teacher , he never went back and his grave is still in our pind. I studied in the same school till class7th, due to him our many generations studied, said Rahim Zafar Baloch, First Secretary General BSO in an interview with Awami Jumhori forum published 25 August 2005, I interviewed him when I visited Gwadar in 2005. His interview was eye opener as he confessed that BSO boys went to Iraq before 1971 to get armed training but later he had realized that such practices were not beneficial for Balochs largely.He also told me that those who accused or abused Punjab, intentionally or unintentionally saved bad policies of establishment. Just read another piece of his interview





سابق سینیٹر مصطفیٰ نواز کھوکھر نے کہا ہے کہ لسانی بنیادوں پر بلوچستان میں پنجابیوں کا قتل بلوچ عسکریت پسندی کا مکرو چہرہ ہے۔

اپنے ایک بیان میں مصطفیٰ نواز کھوکھر نے کہا کہ بلوچ عسکریت پسندی کی جتنی مذمت کی جائے کم ہے، بلوچ دہشتگرد تنظیموں کی ذہنی پستی کا یہ عالم ہے یہ حجام اور مزدوروں کو بھی دشمن سمجھتی ہیں۔

Minority Sikhs, Hindus Flee Pakistan’s Restive Balochistan

Eurasia Review 21 May 2019

Baluchistan: Out of 229 outsiders killed 178 Punjabis & 33 Sindhis means more than 90% while 18 are unidentified

Baloch insurgents have essentially targeted people from other provinces. However, out of the 229 ‘outsiders’ killed, at least 178 were Punjabis alone. Eight Punjabis were killed in 2018; 23 in 2017. There were no such fatalities among Punjabis in 2016. The number of Punjabi fatalities in the Province stood at 22 in 2015; 17 in 2014; 29 in 2013; 26 in 2012; 13 in 2011; 21 in 2010; 18 in 2009; and one in 2008. No such fatalities were recorded in 2007 and 2006. While Punjabis have been the main targets, other non-native persons also fell to the ethnic collateral damage. Out of 51 non-Punjabi ‘outsiders’, 33 were Sindhis, while the ethnic identity of the remaining 18 is unascertained.

TNS Punjabis or collaborators?

"The number would be near 1000 as there is surge in violence against settlers during the last two years," says Tahir Hussain Khan, president Balochistan chapter of HRCP. "The rebels have killed scores of fellow Baloch terming them spies." He says that during the last ten years at least 90,000 settlers majority Punjabis have migrated from Quetta.



HRCP Report 2012.... Hopes, fears and alienation in Balochistan Hopes, fears and alienation in Balochistan Hopes, fears and alienation in Balochistan

There are excesses by the insurgents against 'settlers', essentially members of all ethnic groups other than Baloch, and those considered to be pro-federation, including teachers at schools in Baloch-majority areas who are threatened and targeted if the national anthem is played in the morning assembly or the national flag is flown. The so-called settlers, ethnic Punjabis, Sindhis and Urdu-speaking, who have lived in Balochistan for generations, and some for centuries, have been hounded out of Baloch-majority areas by threats and violence by insurgents and at times also by opportunistic property mafia keen to capture land and buildings of the settlers and the more intimidated the settlers the more likely they were to accept any price for their property as they seek shelter elsewhere. The general law and order has also plummeted across the province. 

Even settlers who had married into ethnic Baloch families have been killed. There are people whose families had settled in Balochistan in the 1920s from parts of India such as Uttar Pradesh. They kept no link with their roots. We have rendered services for Balochistan. Settlers have not an iota of investment in Sindh or Punjab, nor any services there. From some schools in Quetta around 2,000 settler children have left. From interior Balochistan all settlers have left. Only those who cannot go anywhere else and say they have roots here and nowhere else have not moved away.

A JI politician opposed the idea of creating more provinces out of Punjab because it would increase Punjab's representation in the Senate and Balochistan's voice would not be heard there.

 Ethnic Punjabis, Seraikis(they ae Punjabis but due to various biases & pressures even HRCP mentioned them as separate entity) and Sindhis who had come to Turbat, Panjgur and Makran as labourers had left. Hazaras were going abroad in any manner that they could

Balochistan only had one crop season compared to three in Punjab. (Interestingly HRCP only mentioned Punjab but did not mention multiple crop seasons in Sindh & KPK, why to exclude the Punjab? is a question )

 Around 90 percent of the people smuggled through Balochistan were from Gujranwala Division in Punjab P.42...this claim needs further inquiry because reports are there of people coming from Afghanistan and central asia , The Kharotabad incident of May 2011 is an example in this regard. 

Read the report HERE

The debate

Experts say the trend in Balochistan is an interesting study to gauge how effective paramilitary forces can be in controlling crime and the general law and order situation in places like Karachi, where there is debate over whether more power and resources should be given to the Pakistan Rangers as police fails to do the job.

Hasil Bizenjo believes Balochistan’s security situation is interconnected with Fata and Afghanistan and violence is bound to continue unless things improve there. “Until it is decided that nowhere in the country will anyone be allowed to hold a gun, the state will not be able to establish its writ and target killings will continue,” he said.

Bizenjo, whose party has lost three senior leaders, says the heavily-armed rebels are against nationalists because “they say that you talk about federation when we are here up in the mountains waging a battle against the state.”

Balochistan National Party-Mengal’s (BNP-M) Dr Jehanzaib Jamaldini says the party lost one of their best leaders Habib Jalib last year in a target killing. “All evidence points to state elements being behind the murder,” he said.

13 years back record

 there were 256 incidents of targeting in Balochistan in 2009 that killed 200 people and injured 387. In 2010, 231 incidents were reported that killed 255 and injured 498. In the first three months of 2011, at least 39 incidents have occurred, which killed 38 and injured 66. Balochistan Constabulary Commandant Ghulam Shabbir Shah, speaking in Karachi recently, said that target killings are set to break all previous records in the province.


Sectarian killings have been mostly targeted against Hazara Shias

Areas of target killings may have some importance but pertinent question is who are the main beneficiaries, who bought properties of people? because many have left the province in last few decades. 

no target killings are reported in the province’s Pashtun-dominated areas, including Musakhel, Zhob, Loralai, Ziarat, Pishin, Harnai and Sibi.

Most target killing and terrorism incidents are reported in the districts of Quetta, Mastung, Bolan, Noshki, Kalat, Khuzdar, Kech, Gwadar, Lasbela and Panjgur. Four types of target killings are reported in Balochistan: Attacks on people who have settled in the province, assassinations of policemen and Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, sectarian killings and murders of political workers

link of the above is https://tribune.com.pk/story/155589/law-and-order-the-contours-of-target-killings-in-balochistan?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR05Bg0vqzHEmm0CFzfPrtawehd-ORsTGGoO3-TX1TTYKpUtG4abvubgGBY_aem_AYkT12praUpmGtVHYUax97PKDhyLqaQRzaGGJZyPRiaFi6eTox5A2rJM77VBcSqJoA6e1wWFOiEF-pi2kQsQvt5R


"Their Future is at Stake"

Attacks on Teachers and Schools in Pakistan’s Balochistan Province

Fearing for their safety, many teachers—particularly ethnic Punjabis and Shiite Muslims and other targeted minorities—have sought transfers, further burdening what is already the worst educational system in Pakistan. Since 2008, more than 200 teachers and professors have transferred from their schools to the relatively more secure capital Quetta, or have moved out of the province entirely. Nearly 200 others are in the process of making such transfers. New teachers are hard to find, and replacements often less qualified than predecessors.  Human Right Watch report 2010

Haye Baloch interview extract about Afghan migrants including Hazara tribe



Till 1990s or early 2000, Baloch & Pakhtoon progressive leaders were against Afghan migrants and in Balochistan they often said that our biggest city Quetta was annexed by Afghan migrants yet in later years they shifted the blame game from Afghan migrants to Punjabis due to various known reasons.


In the same report

Misleading perceived Punjabi military oppression

Education falls in the crosshairs of three distinct violent conflicts in Balochistan. The first is a nationalist conflict, in which militant Baloch groups such as the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Baloch Liberation United Front (BLUF) seeking separation or autonomy for Balochistan have targeted Punjabis and other minorities, particularly in the districts of Mastung, Kalat, Nushki, Gwadar, Khuzdar, and Quetta. While individuals from all professions have been the victims of such “targeted killings,” teachers and students constitute a significant proportion of victims because militant groups view schools and educational personnel, particularly ethnic Punjabis, as representatives of the Pakistani state and symbols of perceived Punjabi military oppression of the province.



Along with atrocities of the State, HRW accepted in its 13 July 2011 report as follows

Armed militant groups in Balochistan are responsible for killing many civilians and destroying private property. In the past several years, they have increasingly targeted non-Baloch civilians and their businesses, police stations, and major gas installations and infrastructure.



Let us read an argument by Asadullah Raisani regarding killing of Punjabis in Baluchistan

The people of Balochistan are against Punjabis It would be sheer romance to claim that Punjabis are welcomed with open arms in Balochistan. The incidents of killing Punjabis had gained a significant pace after the assassination of Nawab Akbar Bugti on 26 August 2006. However, the whole of Balochistan cannot be blamed for their killings, as Balochistan has a significant number of Punjabis living and working here. Even I recall one of my school teachers, to whom we had asked, “Why aren’t you leaving (Balochistan as many of our Punjabi teachers have left due to the ongoing killings of you people?)” and he confidently replied, “How can one abandon his mother(land)?” In short, Punjabis did face tough times in the province in the recent past, but that does not mean that the people of Balochistan hate or are against them. It also needs to be understood that the majority of the people who influence the policy-making of the country are Punjabis and it naturally creates a sense of apprehension against this majority not only in Balochistan but also in other parts of Pakistan


Akbar Bhugti was killed at 26 August 2006 and after few weeks I interviewed Mir Hasal Bazenjo for Awami Jumhori Forum and above extract of Bazenjo is a proof of his claim. Those who killed A Bhugti achieved multiple benefits. Shifting of blame game from Afghan Muhajirs to Punjabis, Hazara Shias & Sindhis is an example but it is not the only purpose. 


Read it too

In Defence of Punjabi Settlers in Balochistan In Defence of Punjabis Stop target killing of Punjabi settlers in Balochistan by Abdul Nishapuri


بیسیوں عام پنجابی ،2006کے بعد بلوچستان میں اسی طرح کی کئی کارروائیوں کے دوران انتہائی سفاکی سے ہلاک کیے گئے ہیں۔ میڈیا رپورٹس کے مطابق اگست 2006میں نواب اکبر بگٹی کے قتل کے بعد مئی2019تک محنت مزدوری کی غرض سے بلوچستان جانے والے جن 209غیر مقامی لوگوں کو قتل کیا گیا ان میں سے 178پنجابی تھے جبکہ بقایا میں سب سے زیادہ تعداد سندھیوں اور اس کے بعد کے پی کے سے آنے والے لوگوں کی تھی۔ اس دوران بلوچستان میں ہلاک کیے جانے والے غیر مقامی لوگوں میں،سی پیک پراجیکٹ پر کام کرنے والے کچھ چینی باشندے بھی شامل تھے۔بلوچستان میں پنجابیوں کے قتل کے جن واقعات کا میڈیا پر زیادہ ذکر ہوا وہ کچھ یوں ہیں ۔ نوشکی کے حالیہ واقعہ سے پہلے بلوچستان میں پنجابیوں کے قتل کا آخری واقعہ اکتوبر 2023میں ہوا جس میں 6پنجابی مزدور تربت میں ہلاک کیے گئے ۔ اسی طرح دسمبر 2022میں بھی پنجگور میں پنجابیوں کو قتل کیا گیا۔
18اپریل 2019کو اورماڑہ سے گوادر کے درمیان کوسٹل ہائی وے پر 16پنجابیوں اور سندھیوں کو بس سے اتار کر قتل کیا گیا۔4 مئی 2018کو خاران کے علاقے لاجے میں اوکاڑہ پنجاب سے محنت مزدوری کے لیے وہاں گئے ہوئے6 مزدور سوتے میں گولیاں مار کر ہلاککیے گئے ، 31اکتوبر 2018کو گوادر کے قریب ایک زیر تعمیر مکان میںسوئے ہوئے پانچ پنجابی مزدوروں کو گولیاں مار کر ہلاک کیاگیا ۔ نومبر 2017میں بلوچستان کے ضلع تربت میں 15پنجابیوں کے قتل کا اندہناک واقعہ سامنے آیا، مئی 2017 میں گوادر میں ایک سڑک کی تعمیر کے لیے مزدوری کرنے والے10سندھی محنت کش اندھا دھند فائرنگ کر کے قتل کر دیئے گئے ۔ گو کہ نوشکی میں پنجابیوں کی حالیہ ہلاکت کی ذمہ داری کسی تنظیم نے قبول نہیں کی مگر قبل ازیں بلوچستان میں پنجابیوں یا دیگر غیرمقامیوں کے قتل کے جتنے بھی واقعات رونما ہوئے ان کی ذمہ داری کوئی نہ کوئی بلوچ قوم پرست مسلح تنظیم قبول کرتی رہی۔
بلوچستان میں پنجابیوں کو قتل کرنے کے جن واقعات کا ذکر کیا گیا ہے انہیں دہشت گردی کے علاوہ کچھ اور نہیں سمجھا جاسکتا 

Extracts from Abdul Haye Baloch interview 2004
I an against division of my land than how can I support division of the Punjab.

National Awami Party was frontrunner organization formed in 1957 and worked till 1975, it was supporter of nationality right across Pakistan including East & the West Pakistan. it had visionaries like  Mian IftikharuddinSyed Kaswar Gardezi, Mahmud Ali Kasuri G. M. Syed, Sheikh Abdul Majid Sindhi..Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai, Hashim Khan Ghilzai Ghaus Bakhsh BizenjoGul Khan Nasir, Prince Karim Khan of Kalat Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Hakeem Mohammad Aslam SanjariKhan Abdul Wali Khan  Maulana Bhashani , Mirza Mehdy Ispahani, Afzal Bagesh, Mian Minatullah, etc including many from South Punjab  but till that time there was not an issue of Seriaki as a separate language. That fact is largely missing in the nationalist narratives of Sindhi, Pukhtoon & Balochs now but Haye Baloch accepted it as





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