They used the combined strength, both population and resources, of the abolished provinces to offset the numerical majority of Bengalis and coined the idea of parity between East and West Pakistan.

In other word, through a conspiracy, they denied the majority to the Bengalis in the first instance and tried to eliminate all signs of historic provinces that existed centuries before Pakistan was created. Strangely, the rulers now hate the very concept of parity under the present circumstances.

In the smaller provinces, the rulers patronized those politicians who supported the Government policies and the concept of One Unit. From here the Government introduced dirty money making politics dirty in this country.
This policy suited to all the despots and autocratic rulers as they were given a readily available crowd of turncoats and sycophants to support their politics, designs and ambitions.

Late Ayub Khan and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto needed these people the most as they started police action against the Baloch people both in 1962-67 and 1972-77. In case of Bhutto, it was the desired of the late Shahanshah of Iran who was worried over the democratic upsurge on the borders with Iranian Balochistan.

A popularly elected Government by liberal democrats and nationalist in Pakistani Balochistan was unthinkable and unacceptable for the Iranian Monarch. It was coupled with the massive support of the Baath regime to the Baloch nationalists fighting the Tehran Government. That is why, Iran provided its financial and military support to crush the democratic movement of the people of Pakistani Balochistan.

In Balochistan, the rulers always formed a coalition of Sardars, tribal elders, feudals and others against the liberals and democrats. The pattern was changed following the upsurge in 1972 and the rulers started buying the loyalties of the nationalists and radicals and used them in destroying the political and other democratic organisations.

This proved to be more deadly for clean and honest politics. It became difficult to differentiate between the genuine democrats and the agents. The agents raised their voice more loudly with the sole purpose to outwit their genuine rivals on the political plane.

Some time, they raised anti-Pakistan slogans and delivered speeches that were anti-Pakistan without any mistake. It was a political tactic used. They were ignored. Some of them were given honour, others were given positions for services rendered, seen unseen.

But those who demanded provincial autonomy within the framework of Pakistan or supported the MRD or demanded impartial elections were arrested, jailed and placed under house arrest not for months but for years. Political police shadowed them all the time. They’re political organisations broken up.

Since mid-1980s, the pattern of politics was changed. The camp followers of the Government were given money and resources to form their own parties and groups, contest elections and win their seats.

Balochistan is the only province where more than 14 parties and groups form the coalition Government while PPP and PML { the two party system} were allowed to retain their power and influence in Sindh and the Punjab without any radical change.

All the right -minded MPA’s were made Ministers in Balochistan. It remained the state policy in this Province. For this reason a Political Cartel was formed, Balochistan had bigger Cabinet. Presumably, the rulers were afraid of the bigger groupings merging together in Balochistan for political reasons.

They also made a foolproof system of recovery of investment by encouraging the Ministers by indulging in massive corruption. They were allowed to keep dozens of Government vehicles, separate vehicles for their private guards, domestic servants, cook. Others provided Government vehicles to their party workers. Maintenance of POL of the vehicles was given from the Government funds. Even vehicles from the donor agencies were physically snatched.
The foremost function of the Ministers after induction in the Cabinet was to know how many jobs are available for sale and vehicles to use. Embezzlement of funds was very common. 

The Chief Minister, before election as Leader of the House, was on record to have declared that he would grant complete autonomy carte blanche {for loot and plunder of public funds} to his Ministers if they joined hands in overthrowing the non-conformist Chief Minister of Balochistan.
With the change of present Government, there was a positive indication that the dirty politics of corruption would end and more clean people, despite the differences on political plane, would be allowed to play a role in changing the destiny of the oppressed and suppressed people.

But the return of absconders of law with all indications to be key members of the future King’s Party is causing frustration. A somersault by the Government of the day is inconceivable. Let us hope it will be better than the previous ones and serve the people without the dirty people in politics. They will not get the state sponsored dirty money too. By: Siddiq Baluch