For last couple of weeks, scores of people including males, females and children have paraded on roads of Gwadar, the hub city of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), remonstrating slogans of rights under the shadow of established ‘Gwadar ko haq do’ movement, led by the provincial General Secretary of Jamaat-i-Islami, Maulana Hidayat Ur Rehman. Securing the confidence of the people of Gwadar, Maulana has aimed to expand the established movement provincially. For the very purpose, on December 11, Maulana announced to march to Quetta city with one million people and demand for the removal of Frontier Corps (FC) from overall Balochistan. However, the long-running endeavor of Maulana was bull’s eye of severe denunciation by local and exiled Baloch activists upon the visit of the Central Ameer of Jamaat-i-Islami, Sirajul Haq who termed India ‘the biggest enemy’ of Pakistan and the cause of growing unrest in Balochistan. The residents were not satisfied with Siraj ul Haq; for the time being, for they had nothing to do with India but the provincial government drives their ends to fulfillment. Maulana understanding the situation on the other hand, vows to be the voice of Baloch and residents of Gwadar indicating to cease the sit-in if they found him in party promotion.
There are several reasons most Baloch have no good rapports with Jamaat-i-Islami. One, the student wing of the party has conflicts with Baloch students in various universities of Punjab; two, Baloch are a secular nation from the ancient history and they believe more in individual and social freedom other than religious bounding; three, Jamaat-i-Islami has always opposed the Baloch nationalism particularly in 1970s and thereafter which worsened the party’s terms with Baloch and Balochistan; and the list goes on.
While the ongoing protest in the CPEC-city could reach to no conclusion for now, the spokesperson of Foreign Ministry of China, Zhao Lijian said in his statement (November 30) said that he did not find the protest in Gwadar against China and briefed of no Chinese trawlers in the Gwadar Sea. Maulana Hidayat Ur Rehman calls Lijian’s statement an unsuccessful attempt of west portraying the world their peaceful protest for the provision of fundamental rights into an anti-CPEC protest. China Overseas Port Holding Company (COPHC) Pakistan, which deals with the Gwadar port, also stated that Maulana was clear from the beginning in indicating that the movement in Gwadar was not against CPEC neither China. In fact, the protestors did not block Eastbay Expressway, the road being constructed by Gwadar Port Authority under CPEC.
Nonetheless, the recently emerged movement, which is a ray of hope for many in Balochistan, is also a distress of vanishing the inner anger of the natives of deprivations of their due rights for years. Maulana, who is a leader of true path for some, is deemed a political agent by the others. But, all he is doing now is in favor of the local residents unless time varies it in future.
Demands of the Protest
Protestors of Gwadar had in their list thirteen demands which reversed to nineteen with the intensity of the sit-in. They have two leading demands; one, to halt the trawler mafia from coming within the legal boundary of the sea, and two, to refurbish the trade in Pakistan-Iran border which has been the source of income for several families of the district. The other demands include free movement of fishermen in the sea, removal of unnecessary check-posts in Gwadar, Makran Coastal Highway and other routes, establishment of a university in Gwadar, recruitment on vacant posts of non-teaching staff of education sector, check and balance on counterfeit medications, arrears on utility bills should be waived while special subsidy should be given by declaring Gwadar city a natural disaster area, recovery of cars and boats seized by coast guards, provision of clean drinking water for all the citizens of Gwadar, prioritizing the residents of Gwadar on posts under CPEC and Gwadar port, district administration to act accordingly with victims of Tarbela dam, expel of charges against the leader of “Give Rights to Gwadar” movement, Maulana Hidayat Ur Rehman and removing his name from fourth schedule list, ratification of damage to victims of hurricane and fishermen’s nets by trawlers, immediate transfer of DG GDA, Deputy Commissioner Gwadar and Assistant Commissioner Gwadar, quotas for persons with disabilities should be implemented in federal and provincial departments, and certain points should be left open for supplying of food and other eating materials.
Public Reaction
In a short span of time, Maulana’s “Give Rights to Gwadar” movement has gained loud audience all across the country. Residents of Makran – from various towns and villages – have joined the protest to show solidarity with the inhabitants of Gwadar, and above all, to illustrate to the authorities concerned that it is not merely Gwadar going through the mentioned queries, but all the regions are affected with such anguishes. Feeling the need of the people, Maulana announced to expand the movement to overall province so as to reclaim the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan.
Besides this, numerous rallies have taken place in the other parts of Balochistan. Social media sites are chanting support for Gwadar and its people. Rallies of women and children enhanced the worth of the movement indicating that the movement is supported by people from all walks of life. Local film actors have been participating and staging dramas and plays at nights to portray the scenario of the city and ask the higher authorities of attention.
In other words, the movement has become more of a public movement. From local to exile Baloch and the other nations of the country, everyone shows moral and individual back-up and deem Maulana’s demands. Becoming the hub city of CPEC, the movement has attained more sympathy for the locals in the country as well as worldwide which has further increased the mounting pressures on the newly established government of Mir Quddos Bezinjo.
In fact, when Masti Khan, the president of Awami Workers Party, joined the protest and gave an energy-boosting speech, law enforcement agencies termed his words “out of the context of Pakistani constitution” and he was arrested. Arrest warrants were also issued for Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman but the massive crowd, followed by the support of women, did not let the police come into the protest and disturb it. On the other hand, thousands from other cities of Balochistan turned to Gwadar in the very next day to show their solidarity.
Government Response
The provincial government of Balochistan has had negotiations with Maulana Hidayat Ur Rehman to end the protest and that his demands would be met. Since Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, the Provincial Minister for Planning and Development was seeing the matter, the government asked for some, howbeit, they ensured of accomplishment of other demands soon after following the circumstances. Senator Kahuda Babar Baloch claimed in a tweet that measures are taken for to end the protest and making sure the demands are met. He further requested Maulana to finish the protest.
Buledi also stated that they have had meaningful negotiations with Maulana and his team and would bring about positive implementation soon. But Maulana opposed it.
In a meeting, Chief Minister of Balochistan, Mir Abdul Quddos Bizenjo said that doors were always open for protestors for solution of the problems. But he himself did not visit the Gwadar protest in person despite his visit to Turbat during the movement.
Progress of the Protest
On one hand, where Maulana has vowed to stay on roads unless their demands are officially met, on the other hand, government is planning to lead the protest to a conclusion in either way. The government claims the procedures have begun to accomplish the needs, but protestors complain of witnessing trawlers – one of their leading demands – yet in the sea in the Jiwani tehsil of Gwadar. Thus the protestors are finding it hard to believe the government.
Various local administrative orders have been issued like check and balance on medical stores and trawlers, opening of border, removal of unnecessary check-posts and so forth. However, these could not affect the movement. But all these delude when the protestors look at a large number of military deployed to Gwadar who are threatening the protestors to end their protest timely and warning them of serious consequences.
Balochistan is although the richest in resources in Pakistan, it still lacks deserved developments. Such movements can prove beneficial to ensure Balochistan is prospered, but here one wonders if staging such a demonstration would bring fruitful reforms in the fate of most agonic province of Balochistan, why it did not work previously? Because we have seen scores of such protests back in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, but that merely worsened the situation. It is yet to be perceived if the ongoing ‘Give rights to Gwadar’ movement will have diverse outcomes. The people of Balochistan have always looked for a way to drawing their grievances to the state and asking for favorable solutions, such a long-held sit-in helps them gain state attention towards the people. The coming few days can be decisive for the fate of Gwadar and Balochistan.
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