Acid attack on Baloch women

Sir: Recently six women — two teenage sisters among them — were sprayed with acid on their faces in Balochistan. Generally the finger of suspicion is pointed at some obscure religious extremist group. But for the Baloch it seems the handiwork of Pakistan’s secret agencies, wary of Baloch women for their separatist political tendency.
A little analysis can prove this assumption true.
The religious extremist groups target women who don’t observe Parda (the veil); the Baloch women on the contrary — though their outlook could be secular — do not only dress modestly but also cover their faces. Furthermore, the Baloch women do not even mix with men.
Had parda been the issue, the first target of these extremist forces would have been the women living in cities like Lahore and Karachi. Most of the women in these cities don’t even bother covering their hair. In fact they do not even shy away from wearing revealing dresses even in markets.
Historically, Baloch society has never denied the right to public space to women.
Attacking women and children had been considered a disgraceful act in the Baloch culture. The saying: “Don’t attack even the women and children of your worst enemy” is religiously followed and practiced in the Baloch culture. Even the Baloch warriors have always respected this code and anyone who attacks a woman is condemned and ostracized.
Woman being a symbol of dignity and respect in the Baloch culture could be made an easy target to foment fear among the Baloch. It brings humiliation and disgrace to the Baloch who cannot think of depriving their women of respect and dignity.

Niaz Betab
Awaran