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HRCP fact-finding missions’ report 41
In the case of Balochistan, there are undoubtedly unresolved political issues. An absence of dialogue
has given way to brute force on all sides. Baloch nationalists see the expansion of military presence in the
province as an ominous sign. They feel the urgency to claim their stake in the natural resources of the Province.
On the other hand, the government is adamant about going ahead with its plans on development under the
direct supervision and patronage of the military. This serious conflict of interests, at a critical moment—where
the military is desperate for resources and the Baloch nationalists fear they are losing out for good—needs to
be resolved by the intervention of honest brokers.
The parliamentary commission on Balochistan, which was established in September 2004 in an attempt
to resolve the crisis in the province, could have played this role. However, even the recommendations it made,
in an interim report submitted to the Senate in September 2005 after various meetings with Baloch tribal
leaders and politicians, have gone largely unheeded. These recommendations included the withdrawal of the
Frontier Constabulary and coastguard from interior Balochistan, the payment by the federal government of all
arrears on gas royalties and the shifting of the head office of the Gwadar Port Authority (GPA) from Karachi to
Gwadar and attention to addressing the issues of poverty and under-development in Balochistan. Criticism of
the composition of the commission by opposition parties, and a distancing from the stands taken by it by some
Baloch leaders, adversely affected the credibility and standing of the commission.
Law and order
Balochistan has 26 districts. In terms of policing the province is divided into category ‘A’ and ‘B’. The
‘A’ areas consist mainly of towns and cities and remains under a regular police force. There are 89 police
stations and the sanctioned strength of the police is 19,145. The Balochistanis complain that the head of the
police force—a provincial subject—is invariably a non-Balochistani. They also complained the Governor was
from outside the province.
The ‘B’ area (almost 95% of Balochistan) is under the control of the Levies who maintain 286 thanas
and employ 13,357 personnel. According to the statistics available, the crime rate in ‘A’ area is comparatively
lower than in “B” area managed by the Levis. The government plans to merge the Levies force with the police
force. Presently, the recruitment of Levies is not based on merit, but on the recommendation of the “local
influentials”. 21
The conversion of the Levies into the police force has also become controversial. Many Balochistan
imembers of the parliament expressed fears of rising unemployment amongBalochistanison being relieved from
the Levies force. The government has, however, assured them that the Levis will be trained and inducted into
the police force. They further hope to provide 6,000 jobs for local inhabitants in the Balochistan Constabulary,
being raised for policing purposes.
The Frontier Corps (FC) works under the Federal Interior ministry. It is a paramilitary force. It controls
smuggling, law and order and drug trafficking. According to the authorities 24% of the FC is from Balochistan.
In theory the provincial Home Department requests the Interior ministry of the central government to come to
the aid of the provincial government. However, given the highly centralized system of governance in Pakistan,
the Centre takes the decision and the Provinces simply back it.
A bone of contention and bitterness are the check posts established by the security and law enforcement
agencies. The FC has set up 493 check posts. A vast number of citizens in Balochistan have complained of
abuses by those running these posts. The complaints range from extortion, humiliation, threats and outright use
of lethal force without any provocation.
According to the Frontier Corps Ordinance 1959, the FC is deemed to be in “active service” against
external aggressor or enemy, against hostile tribes, raiders or other hostile persons, or persons co-operating