Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo addressed the House of commons in Kalat State on the issue of annexation with Pakistan on 14 December 1947

The issue of annexation with Pakistan is though really complex with context to its significance but it cannot bother us as the reputable members of this house have always been aware of how to secure our independence if we want to live freely. Just like Iran and Afghanistan have their own social, cultural and national identity, the Baloch too have their own distinctive values, though we are muslim but that doesn’t means that we will give away our freedom and be absorbed in another nation. If it is necessary for Kalat to be annexed in Pakistan just on grounds of being a muslim state, the Islamic governments of Iran and Afghanistan shall also be merged in Pakistan.

The examples of Punjab and Sindh that are portrayed are wrong. No single major nation dwells in either Punjab or Sindh but different sects that do not have their own social identity. Just like English Imperialists forcefully occupied and ruled entire Asia, the Baloch state that is known as Balochistan also fell under the imperialist tyranny. Despite our sacrifices and struggles for our freedom from British, we lost to the brutality of the British Government, our expectations were shattered and so was our freedom. We were neither a part of India prior to this and nor are we today. The desire of Pakistan to annex Balochistan, the homeland of Baloch, in Pakistan is absurd and unacceptable. What was our conduct with Pakistan and what is Pakistan doing with us now? Before Pakistan came into being, our Khan housed Muslim League in our homeland, our houses and vehicles were all provided for them, and we struggled day and night for the triumph of their movement, but now their behavior with us is entirely opposite and unlike. They have refused to return Lasbela and Kharan, the two vital portions of our country. We ask not to make Lasbela and Kharan our slaves, but they are historically fragment of our nation, and therefore part of Balochistan. Pakistan has refused to even talk about this until the Baloch government is insulted to bow before it. (On interference from the President he said) I am only saying what I realize from the behavior of Pakistan. The British government handed Kharan and Lasbela to Balochistan, but Pakistan without consulting us dispensed the food supplies to them.

We are ready to become friends with Pakistan with dignity but refuse to become a part of Pakistan with humiliation. We are given death threats so that we may sign an agreement of national death of 15 Million Baloch in Asia. We cannot commit such a crime of ruining hundreds of years old independence and autonomy of Balochs by merging them into non-Baloch. We are being told that the Baloch nation cannot defend its rule in this era of nuclear warfare, can Afghanistan, Iran and even Pakistan protect itself on this criteria? Today Russia and America can eliminate all such nations, therefore if we cannot defend our country there are several other nations that cannot defend themselves.

If Pakistan wants to come to an accord with us as an independent and sovereign state we will heartily welcome it but if it is not ready for this it will strongly be an autocratic act on its behalf, which will not be tolerable in any circumstance. And if such an undemocratic act is forced upon us, we are ready to sacrifice everything to defend the independence of our homeland.   

Baba e Istman --------- Tahir Bizenjo

Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo was born in 1917 in a distant and very backward village of “Shanak” in Kalat State. He belonged to the Hamalani Branch of “Sardarkhel” sub-tribe of Bizenjo tribe.  He lost his father in his early childhood and his assets were placed under supervision of Court of Wards. He acquired his primary education from Quetta. After the destructive earthquake of 1935 he stayed in Karachi for a while before moving to India and resumed further education in Alligarh Muslim University.  He got indulge in politics while he was a student and has been very active in the national independence struggle for freedom of South Asian Nations from imperialism. Since beginning he had been fond of Congress and its nationalist leadership. From 1939 to 1942 he was expelled from Kalat State. In 1941 Kalat State National Party (KNP) allied with All India State People Conference. Mr. Bizenjo was named member of KNPs

working committee for the conference. In 1947 he was elected the member of Kalat’s assembly (House of Commons) and when the issue of Kalat’s annexation with Pakistan arose, he strongly opposed it as the leader of opposition and delivered his historic speech on this issue. After Kalat was forcefully annexed with Pakistan, Kalat State National Party was banned and Mr. Bizenjo was arrested. In 1956 Mr. Bizenjo and Prince Mir Abdul Karim formed a party named “Ustaman Gul” and in 1957 in collaboration with the leaders of other progressive parties formed National Party and merged Ustaman Gul in it. Afterwards a fraction from Awami League under headship of Maulana Abdul Hameed Bhashani linked with this new party, creating National Awami Party (NAP). In 1966 Mr. Bizenjo was elected as Member National Assembly of West Pakistan and in the same year when National Awami Party fragmented in two fractions, he became the General Secretary of Wali Khan Group. In result of struggles of Mr. Bizenjo and his associates one unit was demolished in 1970 and Balochistan was reinstated to its original status of a province and elections were conducted. Mr. Bizenjo got elected as Member National Assembly from Makran and was later appointed as Governor of Balochistan in 1972. He played a vital part in establishment and endorsement of constitution in 1973. After completing his tenure as Governor on 15, February, 1973 he was elected parliamentary leader of National Party. He along with other leaders was arrested in 1973 when the constitutional and elected government of Balochistan was tumbled. He was tried for sedition, under the famous Hyderabad Conspiracy Case and was set free on 5^th, February, 1978. He stayed with National Democratic Party for a while after his release, but parted when differences arose with its leadership. In 1979 along with Mir Gul Khan Naseer and Sardar Ataullah Mengal constituted his new party, Pakistan National Party and remained its head till end.

        The period of General Zia ul Haq was indeed most awful for pro-democracy politicians. Two noteworthy leaders of Balochistan, Nawab Kher Bukhsh Mari and Sardar Ataullah Mengal opted for self-exile in disappointment, whereas Mr. Bizenjo along with the progressive and democrat powers in the country fought against Zia’s dictatorship while facing imprisonments at numerous junctures. In 1983 he actively participated in the move for restoration of democracy and boycotted the pretended referendum and nonparty based elections of 1985. During this period Mr. Bizenjo courageously and bravely fought against extremist and infuriating modes of politics in Balochistan. He stayed persistent even under extreme pressures up to such an extent that the extremists and feudal elements along with tribal chiefs and imperialism backed powers allied together to form a huge front against Mr. Bizenjo. It was for this alliance that he said;    “Extremist, either of left wing or right wing, is always an opportunist”. Although Mr Bizenjo suffered a sore setback on the hands of this alliance in the elections of 1988, but this defeat was unable to harm the due standing of Mr Bizenjo, rather the extremist elements in the politics of Balochistan, indulging in democratic and Parliamentary politics and contesting in elections, was the political victory of his ideas. Mr Bizenjo did not regret on his own and parties defeat in election and started reorganizing the party. While commenting on disappointing results of the party Mr Bizenjo said;

“We have just suffered loss at one front not the entire war and only we can win this war because the roots of our politics lay deep amongst the public, we struggle for public empowerment. Defeating public is as impossible as rebirth of dead.”

        The great leader of the Baloch nation died on August, 11, 1989 and thus this illuminating chapter of history came to its end. Mr. Bizenjo thought a lot to the people of Pakistan and Balochistan through his political struggle. Now it is the duty of progressive and democratic forces in the country to keep this light of democratic struggle brightened.