Adil Najam
This video needs no explanation. It says so much more than what it says. It deserves a lot of thought. And, for those of us not from Baluchistan, a head hung in shame.
I saw it first in a post on the blog Cafe Pyala, which got it exactly right:
Many of us have often had a laugh about Americans’ woeful knowledge about the rest of the world.
Well, what would you say to this? A BBC Urdu correspondent roamed the streets of Punjab’s largest and most cosmopolitan city, Lahore, to ask random people on the street how much they knew of Balochistan. His report is compiled under the heading “Punjab Balochistan Ko Kitna Jaanta Hai?” (How well does Punjab know Balochistan?). Keep in mind that Lahore is not a rural backwater where media is not easily accessible, that Punjab’s population comprises some 60 percent of the Pakistan’s population and that in the last three years, the issue of Balochistan has probably been one of the most talked about issues in domestic politics. Think for a moment what it says about our educational system, our media, our democracy, our policy-making, our national integration and yes, our majoritarian chauvinism.
If this does not actually shock you, you’re made of sterner stuff than I am.
As I said, this video needs no explanation. It says so much more than what it says. It speaks to the facts that we too often do not speak of. It reminds us of the killings, the disappearances, the murders that we wish to wish away. It deserves a lot of thought. And, for those of us not from Baluchistan, a head hung in shame.
Such videos can sometimes exagerate reality by picking up on and highlighting the ignorant. I think mostly Pakistanis all over do know more about Baluchistan but the larger issue is a lack of respect for the smaller provinces, not a lack of knowledge.
Nothing new in this video.
THIS IS ANTIPAKISTAN PROPAGANDA TO CREATE HATERED AMONG PAKISTANIS PARTICULARLY AGAINST OUR PUNJABI BROTHERS,THIS IS A GAME OF RULLING JUNTA OF THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD IT SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED ,BANNED OR LET THE PUBLIC INFORMED WITH THIS BRAINWASH.ALLAH TAALA SAVE US AAMEEN
how many people know about entire europe and america,why bbc u are making propeganda taking advantage of illetracy and innocency of our people .Don’t worry almighty allah bless our country,our people are loveable and united,one day we will rise to our islamic status.inshaallah
I feel for the Balochs. The only law is the law of the jungle. Its just quite frustrating to see our own being hurt, our own being deprived, our own being killed.
Despite of launching mega projects like: The Gwadar Port, Makran Coastal Highway, Saindak Copper Project all exist – the first two are complete, while the Saindak project is well on its way, the Government has much to answer for in Baluchistan, the tribal leaders have made sure that no progress takes place in Baluchistan. The Bugti tribe extracts a massive amount from the govt. for the Sui gas field, and not one rupee have they spent on their own people.