The growing protests led by supporters of the Haq Do Tehreek , led by Jamaat-i-Islami’s Maulana Hidayatur Rahman, are not new. They mirror last year’s massive demonstrations.
The difference this time round is the violence that occurred when the police tried to remove the protestors.
As an editorial in Dawn stated the Pakistani state could have handled this issue in a better manner. Many of the demands of the group are justified and reflect the deeper malaise affecting Balochistan, as many of the province’s people feel they are not getting the fruit of Development.
Further, “the state needs to resolve the impasse and address the people’s genuine problems and continue the dialogue process. Instead of more promises, the people of Balochistan need action on the ground, so that they become the principal beneficiaries of development in their own province. Considering decades of neglect, it will take time to address the people’s grievances, but the government needs to deal with the issues with compassion and understanding, rather than resorting to the use of force.”
