Pakistan can meet with more national disasters and debacles if the military actions targeted against the people of the country are not immediately stopped. This was the crux of a consultative meeting convened by ActionAid Pakistan here in Islamabad under its Rights Based Governance and Peace portfolios. While reviewing the state of human rights vis-a-vis spiraling violence in Balochistan and the NWFP, the participants demanded to immediately halt the military operation in Balochistan.

Given the deteriorating situation and gross human rights violations reportedly being committed in Balochistan and South Waziristan- where military operations are being carried out- Action Aid Pakistan convened a consultation with civil society members/organizations on February 7, 2006.

This meeting was aimed at reviewing the situation and arriving at a more in depth understanding of the underlying issues. Resource persons, familiar with the conflict areas, presented analytical perspectives on the issue.

The participants observed that situation in Balochistan had not worsened overnight. By undermining the cause of provincial autonomy at the altar of fake devolution and sending military to quell the dissent, the military regime had created a situation similar to the one prevailing in former East Pakistan. They further observed that on several counts Balochistan had a high poverty ratio than the former East Pakistan which was pauperized by the central government in Islamabad. The participants remarked that in several areas of Balochistan, people survived in conditions almost similar to that prevailing in Sub Saharan Africa. Despite being rich and resourceful, Balochistan had remained criminally under-developed because its natural resources were being exploited for the benefit of others. Besides, it was never given just share in the resource distribution.

IGN: justify">They said that by distorting the facts about what is actually happening in Kohlu, Dera Bugti and other parts of Balochistan and NWFP, the military government cannot change the reality and the reality was that because of its failures to protect the very lives of innocent people, the authoritarian government had become a liability. They also expressed concern that the military government had a track record of responding to the political and economic chaos with guns and bullets and that using force to control all situations could be detrimental to the integrity of the country.

Representatives of several civil society organizations expressed solidarity with the people of Balochistan and South Waziristan condemning the military operation which, according to them was unleashed against the people who either had difference of opinion with the ruling establishment or demanded their legitimate rights.