Gulzaib Tareen
A place with Aztec like culture, where most of the people are not in the position to understand whether the state is a blessing or a curse. Human organization, based on ethnicity or tribes, is premature and relatively on the prior stage of human development. Feudal system which consists of Nawabs, Sardars, Khans and Malaks is playing legislative role from generations. Jirga is a parallel system of justice operating according to the customs of the Balochistan. Marraka is still working as an executive body in the province. Devastating feuds over petty issues have engulfed thousands of people. Feudalistic stakeholders succeeded in survival throughout Mughal and British empires in Balochistan whether it was used as a battle field or a buffer zone.
In the contemporary world the barely populated province consisting of 52% of the country‘s area is the home to severe issues for the country. In tribalism, most of the people lack institutional understanding because of strong customary values and illiteracy. Society obeys personalities rather than institutions. Efficiency of judicial system is weak as compared to other alternatives. In other words, there is a conflict between feudalism and the state.
A point of weakness is a source of attraction for the enemies. Hostile agencies are manipulating the economically weak, illiterate and desperate tribes of Balochistan. The enemies take advantage of the misunderstanding between feudalism and the state by misrepresentation through Pseudo-nationalism, provincialism and sectarianism.
Coercion should not be considered as a cure to ethnocentrism. State should be a mature institute by acting as a facilitator and an observer. Its initiative to tackle the issue of Balochistan should be based on both long term and short term policies. The policies should negate physical force in tribal societies like Balochistan where revenge works as a customary value. Conspiracy of propaganda is playing a crucial role and it needs to be eradicated immediately. Cultural exchange programs within the country should be promoted in order to get rid of misunderstandings in the form of wandering rumors and stereotypes regarding each other. Concept of shared ethnic institutions throughout the country can help to encounter provincialism and pseudo nationalism. The writ of the state in judicial and administrative matters can only be made efficient by creating an amalgam of parallel systems of administration of justice (State laws + Jirga laws) in the form of customary law. People can easily become the tool of conspiracy because of the paucity of economic resources. Economic liberalism should be promoted by state in big cities and in national level projects.
If the tribal society is economically independent and well educated then it can never become a tool of conspiracy. The Baloch people will have the understanding about the legitimacy of the state, neighbouring ethnicities and sects, and in that way, any propaganda will be hardly effective. If we still not commit to what we consider good, the number of followers of feudal hegemony will sharply increase regardless of the mega projects like CPEC, polio campaigns and family planning initiatives etc.
The Writer is a student of 5th Semester of LLB Honors in Punjab University Law College.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are those of the author and Balochistan Voices not necessarily agrees with them.
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