State Elitesa Policies towards-Balochistan (1947-70). Its Dynamics and Impacts
The British administration made an announcement of the partition plan for India and Pakistan on June 3, 1947. Shahi Jirga was formed as an electoral college to decide about the future of British Baluchistan. It finally announced its decision in favour of Pakistan. Afterwards, the state elites seemed bound and determined to include the Kalat state as its part because it geo-strategic and geo-economic significance. They changed their mindset and expressed the intention of unconditional accession of the Kalat state to Pakistan. The Khan finally signed an instrument of accession realising the precarious conditions in and around the Khanate. The Baloch nationalists challenged the validity of instrument of accession and verdict of Shahi Jirga. There were further developments subsequent to it, the Advisory Council was made in June 1949 to ensure people’s participation in the governance of British Baluchistan. Another initiative taken in this direction was the appointment of the Reform Committee in October 1958. The state elites decided to combine four states of Kalat, Mekran, Kharan and Las Bela into Balochistan States Union. Prince Abdul Kareem Khan did not resign himself to the changed status of the Khanate but his rebellion was suppressed by the Pakistani armed forces. The second Constituent Assembly of Pakistan Subsequently adopted the most contentious plan of one-unit by totally ignoring the sensitivities of the smaller provinces. It was the brainchild of the central state players who wanted to defeat the political alliance between East Pakistan and provincial regional players of West Pakistan. It turned out to be counter-productive. The ethnic and regional actors of Balochistan became sceptical and apprehensive about the policies of central state actors. One Unit Plan was made a part of 1956 Constitution. It was a fateful attack on the federal parliamentary set-up. The central elites believed in unity through conformity, not through diversity. The unification plan
