Elements of Violence in Jeay Sindh Tehreek (JST) and Balochistan National Movement (BNM): A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

Ethno-national movements, on the whole, start with some grievances which if left unattended may aggravate and provide a platform for public mobilization. Once such rallying takes place and people start following the calls of main leaders who raise these issues continuously, the passive response of the government becomes a moot point among the members of these ethnic based national movements. Lack of political far-sightedness and immaturity hamper resolution of such issues which often take the shape of a localized struggle. As these movements become prominent at provincial and national levels, the political class joins them vociferously and its reverberations in support of the just calls of the movement leaders are heard in provincial and national assemblies. The key demands, though genuine on multiple counts, are then used as bargaining chip for political leverage and negotiations. Once a political party, formed on the basis of ethno-national struggle, is squeezed on different grounds it may turn violent on account of multiple factors often leading to situations where public disturbances are created and sustained for longer period of time. In the paper, two different ethnic based irredentist movements have been studied to observe the underlying factors which have pushed some of their leaders to insurgency, violence, turbulence and lawlessness. The study provides a yardstick which can be readily used in order to judge whether a movement will remain non-violent or resort to disorder in future.