Turbat protest
ONCE again, people in Balochistan are out on the streets against the alleged excesses of the state. The trigger of the latest controversy has been the killings on Nov 24 in Turbat, allegedly by CTD personnel, of a number of individuals, including Balaach Mola Bakhsh, in an ‘encounter’. The slain man’s family claim the encounter was fake, and that Balaach had actually been in custody. Protesting has been ongoing since the killings and the slain individual was laid to rest on Wednesday. The protest has affected large parts of Makran, with political parties, civil society activists and traders calling for a judicial inquiry into the incident. In a related development, the Islamabad High Court hauled up the state for failing to retrieve missing Baloch students. Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani asked why 28 students remained untraced, and warned that the prime minister and other officials could have cases registered against them if the students were not recovered. The caretaker interior minister promised to “fulfil our responsibility”.
Several large demonstration movements have taken place in Balochistan over the last few years, including the Haq Do Tehreek protests, and, before them, marches and protest camps set up to trace missing persons. The common denominator in all these protests is the state’s inability to ensure the fundamental rights of Balochistan’s people. The Turbat protest continued on Thursday, with demonstrators calling for thorough investigations into the alleged extrajudicial killings. It is hoped that the committee formed by the Balochistan government can uncover the truth; if state functionaries were indeed involved in extrajudicial killings, the guilty need to be punished. Dubious encounters are a countrywide problem, but the situation in Balochistan is particularly acute due to other contributory factors. As Justice Kayani noted, if individuals are suspected of involvement in anti-state activities, they must be dealt with according to the law. Extrajudicial methods will hardly bring stability to Balochistan.
Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2023
AIDS alarm
AS countries observe World AIDS Day today, it is a moment of reflection for Pakistan, which is grappling with an alarming escalation in HIV cases. HIV is transmitted through certain bodily fluids and slowly strips away the body’s ability to defend itself against infection. In the absence of treatment, it progresses to AIDS, where the body’s defences are completely broken down and even the slightest illness can be fatal. Recent reports paint a grim picture of our struggle against this public health crisis, especially given the international progress in managing and reducing HIV spread. According to data from UNAIDS, Pakistan has gone from 75,000 HIV cases in 2010 to 270,000 in 2022, indicating an inadequate response to this epidemic. Only a fraction of those diagnosed receive the necessary antiretroviral therapy, leaving most at risk of further transmission. The core challenge lies in the lack of awareness about one’s HIV status. This ignorance is a double-edged sword, which not only delays treatment but also perpetuates the stigma associated with HIV. This stigma, rooted in societal norms and misconceptions, is a considerable barrier to effective prevention and treatment strategies. The rise in infections among women and children is particularly alarming, underscoring the need for targeted interventions. The number of cases among women rose from 9,000 in 2010 to 49,000 in 2022 and in children from 830 in 2010 to 6,700 in 2022.
Pakistan’s reliance on foreign donors for its HIV programme underscores the urgent need for the government to assume financial ownership and reinforce its commitment. Comparatively, India’s significant reduction in new infections — from 120,000 in 2010 to 66,000 in 2022 — exemplifies the impact of a proactive and coordinated response. On this World AIDS Day, it is crucial to recognise that the fight against HIV/AIDS extends beyond the health sector. It demands a societal shift to dispel myths, combat discrimination, and foster a supportive environment. Mental health support, stringent infection control in medical facilities, and inclusive policies for marginalised communities are essential. At this critical juncture, Pakistan faces a choice: escalate efforts to align with global targets for eliminating HIV/AIDS or continue facing its relentless spread. The path forward requires bold action, unwavering political will, and a unified national response to change the course of this preventable and treatable disease in Pakistan.
Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2023
Half victories
THE entire point of an independent judiciary arises from the need for neutral arbiters who can determine, through objective assessment of facts and a dispassionate interpretation and application of the law, whether any member(s) of society has broken the social contract.
It is our great misfortune that our justice system repeatedly fails on this count. Nowhere are the implications of this failure more evident than on the political stage, where careers are made and ended on court cases that seem to be decided not on facts and laws but on the whims of the powers that be. The latest such example is the exoneration of PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif in the Avenfield case.
The charges brought against him had seemed enough five years ago for the judiciary to convict him and end his political career but have now disappeared at the stroke of a pen. Were the judges wrong then, or are they wrong now? It is a pity that it depends on whom one asks.
In a just society, innocence — especially in cases involving allegations of moral turpitude — cannot be a matter of perspective alone. Mr Sharif’s position has not been helped by the fact that the case against him has been dismissed because NAB, which had once relentlessly hounded him and his family, suddenly has no interest in prosecuting him.
People will ask what prompted this change of heart and wonder if it had something to do with Mr Sharif’s perceived status as the ‘new selected’; few will bother to consider the weaknesses of the original case.
Therefore, while the PML-N supremo may have technically been deemed innocent, the shadow of his conviction will continue to linger and may even turn against him in case he steps out of line again.
It would have been far wiser for Mr Sharif to have returned to the country much earlier to fight his legal battles and secure a more compelling victory in them.
It would have established some distance between his acquittals and the accusation being made by other parties that the state is going all out to skew the playing field in favour of the PML-N. But perhaps Mr Sharif knew better than to have faith in a system that had failed him thrice.
If one considers where his primary rival, PTI’s Imran Khan, is today, Mr Sharif cannot be considered irrational for lacking faith in the judicial process. The treatment being meted out to Mr Khan parallels what Mr Sharif was forced to endure some five years ago.
In the former’s case, too, it seems to matter little what the facts and the laws say. And this, again, is the tragedy of the Pakistani judicial system: that justice is rarely ever seen to be done.
Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2023