ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) on Tuesday organised a roundtable conference on ‘Dialogue on Balochistan’ to discuss the overall socio-political trends in Balochistan, a statement said.

The conference also discussed how the political and autocratic regimes have fared in the restive and desolate province in the last seven decades, it added.

IPRI Acting President and Director Research Brigadier Raashid Wali Janjua (Retd) observed that the backward province is faced with a multitude of grievances and issues, and the same have unfortunately been exploited by external factors.

He said that the most deprived unit of the federation is poised with polarisation in all walks of life, and the problems are of horizontal and vertical in essence.

The speakers highlighted the political tribulations of the province since the Nawab Akbar Bugti government was sent packing in 1973, and the initiation of insurgency trends since then-on.

They were of the view that the rich tribal mosaic is an asset in itself, and we have failed to tap the genuine identity nexus of the Baloch to this day.

The aspects of disenfranchisement, parochialism and sense of neglect on the part of stakeholders was discussed, and it was recommended that the people are in a need of being truly empowered.

It was resolved that the peoples’ rights and resources are the main ingredients of Balochistan, and a political solution has to be found in their indigenous perspective.

While pointing out the trends of insurgency and its root-cause, the speakers said that Balochistan has been handled wrongly and is in need of a new social contract. The people are in neglect and there is a divide between them and those who represent them.

The participants of the conference observed that all elections were rigged in Balochistan and their results manipulated, which has led to resentment and mushrooming of dissent, adding that democracy and indigenous identity has never been allowed to flourish in the province.

The issue of over-securitisation of the province was also discussed, and recommended that devolution of powers is needed and the local police and levies should lead in addressing the law and order situation.

The roundtable argued that Balochistan needs a multidimensional strategy consisting of the tenants of economy, empowerment, revisiting foreign relations and absolute rights to the locals.

The session was participated by former Chief Minister Balochistan, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch; former Deputy Speaker National Assembly Sardar Wazir Ahmed Jogezai;  Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed; Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar; former federal secretary Narcotics Akbar Durrani; former federal secretary and IGP Syed Kaleem Imam; Prof Dr Fida Bazai of Balochistan University and senior journalist Syed Ali Shah.