Saranan Workers’ Killings Condemned; Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Opposes Transfer of Powers to FC
QUETTA: The Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) has strongly condemned the killing of five workers in Saranan and the bombing of the Saranan Bazaar police station, warning that the prevailing situation could be used to undermine civilian authority and constitutional rights.
In a statement issued by the party’s central secretariat, PkMAP expressed deep sorrow and condolences to the families of the workers killed on the under-construction Saranan Bypass road. The party also condemned the police station attack that occurred several days earlier.
The party said the country was facing serious political, constitutional, economic and law-and-order crises. It alleged that the independence and importance of the Constitution, media, judiciary and parliament were being undermined, while efforts were being made to centralise powers and resources by weakening federal and provincial authority.
PkMAP said the use of law and order and national security as a pretext to curtail citizens’ political, civil and constitutional freedoms, rights, resources and right to governance could not be accepted.
The party expressed concern that the state was allegedly creating, directly or indirectly, a law-and-order situation through the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and other “non-state elements and proxies,” which it said could then be used to restrict the constitutional and democratic powers of citizens.
PkMAP condemned attacks by the BLA and other armed groups in Pashtun areas, as well as the killing of innocent civilians and workers. However, it said terrorist incidents could not be used as a justification for depriving people of their rights or eliminating civilian authority.
The party criticised the provincial Home Department and government, accusing them of failing to maintain law and order. It termed the reported withdrawal of police personnel from police stations and their concentration at district headquarters, along with the transfer of powers to the Frontier Corps (FC), as “anti-people” measures.
PkMAP also strongly opposed what it described as efforts to weaken the police and civil administration while transferring authority to the FC.
The party said the bombing of the Saranan police station followed days later by the killing of five workers raised serious questions about the performance of the provincial government, Home Department and district administration of Pishin.
Despite the BLA reportedly claiming responsibility for the attack, PkMAP said the failure to take effective action against those involved, their alleged facilitators and responsible officials was deeply concerning.
The party demanded transparent investigations into both incidents, immediate arrest of the perpetrators and their facilitators, and legal action against government officials found guilty of negligence or providing assistance.
PkMAP reiterated its commitment to continuing its struggle against terrorism, proxy politics and attempts to use unrest as a pretext to deprive the people of their constitutional, political and civil rights, provincial powers, national resources and right to governance.
