You may hear tales of justice but would never find it in some circumstances in Balochistan. The prevalence of unjust acts are the talk of the day. Balochistan, the resource-rich province of Pakistan, has declined to carry through its priorities. It is confronting with multidimensional issues, but the most debating is malfunctioning of judiciary.
Injustice in Balochistan has created extreme level of hatred, discrimination and cruelty. Unfairness with the oppressed and deprived people of Balochistan has to come to a head by witnessing no day passing by when the people demonstrate on roads for demanding justice. Shudder of nervousness has besieged minds. Despite having courts with competent judges, people have to face law and order uncertainties.
Furthermore, Balochistan, a part of democratic society where judiciary is considered to be an independent body, has dealt with the people unjustly. Access to justice is a fundamental right. The right to legal aid is a basic one under Article 4 and under Article 10 (a) of the Pakistani constitution. Constitution is considered as supreme law of the country which ought to be protecting the rights of its citizens, but arguably, it has remained a textual document only.
However, whosoever advocated for the rights of people are left unjustly. On 8th of August, 2016, a suicide bomber attacked a hospital in Quetta, killing dozens of people. They mainly targeted the lawyers whose families still await justice. Another incident occurred in district Kech leaving little Bramsh Baloch injured and murdering her mother. In a much similarly way as the previous incident, Kulsoom Baloch was killed and left with unjustified consequences in Dazin Tump [Kech].
Balochistan is no strange to incidents of violence. Recently, Islamic State [IS] claimed responsibility for slaughtering 11 labours from Hazara community, who were earning bread and butter for their families by working in a coal mine in Mach Balochistan. Their families, being disappointed by the law enforcing departments and courts of Balochistan, demonstrated on roads by putting the corpses on roads in freezing temperature for more than 5 days.
One is forced to think about how long will the people of Balochistan beg for justice? It has been a decade now since the door of justice has been closed for them. The people are losing faith in the courts and judiciary system of Balochistan. Besides this, prosecution is also not working competently and leaving lacunas in the criminal cases which helps the accused for acquittal. The state needs a reform in the criminal system and put all the efforts to regain the trust of people.