National Party Rejects Division of Provinces, Calls for Restoration of Border Trade in Balochistan
TURBAT:National Party (NP) central leaders and former Balochistan chief minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and Senator Jan Muhammad Buleidi have urged party workers to rise above personal and group interests and adopt a broader national perspective focused on national interests and politics.
Addressing the National Party Kech District Council meeting in Turbat, the leaders said Balochistan was currently facing various forms of extremism and insecurity, leaving ordinary citizens in severe difficulty.
They expressed concern over reports of people being forced to leave their homes in Nushki and other areas, damage to orchards, closure of national highways, establishment of checkpoints, attacks on bridges and the seizure of citizens’ vehicles.
They also condemned incidents involving the burning of vehicles, alleged abductions of civilians, young people and government employees, alleged inhumane treatment and demands for ransom. They said reports of ambulances and vehicles being taken from citizens were particularly condemnable.
According to the NP leaders, such incidents have created serious economic and social problems in Balochistan. Education of young people is being disrupted, businesses are suffering and the transportation system within the province has been badly affected. They stressed that ordinary citizens must not be subjected to violence, insecurity and fear under any circumstances.
Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and Senator Jan Muhammad Buleidi said Pakistan was facing severe economic pressure and a deteriorating law-and-order situation, but the rulers appeared to be focusing on policies that could further divide the country instead of addressing these fundamental issues.
They urged the authorities to avoid what they described as the **“divide and rule” policy** associated with the British colonial era.
The leaders made it clear that the division of the country’s national and historic units was unacceptable. They said the National Party rejected any policy aimed at dividing these units in the name of creating new provinces.
They said the party’s political approach toward the issue should reflect the position taken by the people of Sindh, who, according to them, had maintained a clear stance on protecting their historic and national unity. They warned that calls for dividing national units could further weaken the country.
The NP leaders also demanded the **immediate restoration of border trade in Balochistan**, saying its closure had left millions of people unemployed. They noted that residents of border areas depend directly on trade for their livelihoods and called for the removal of unnecessary checkpoints that obstruct public movement and employment.
They reiterated that the National Party is a democratic political organization and believes in peaceful and democratic political struggle to achieve its political and national objectives.
The leaders paid tribute to martyred Dr Lal Bakhsh Baloch and Muhammad Hussain Baloch for their national, political and democratic struggles, describing their contributions as a source of inspiration for workers engaged in democratic and national politics. The Kech District Council meeting was dedicated to the two martyrs.
They also urged party workers to use social media in a positive, responsible and effective manner to take the National Party’s political programme, national perspective and position on public issues to people across the province.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of NP Kech District President Younis Javed at the Circuit House in Turbat. NP President Dr Abdul Malik Baloch, Senator Jan Muhammad Buleidi and National Assembly member Philein Baloch attended as special guests.
The meeting consisted of three sessions. During the first session, District General Secretary Sartaj Gichki presented his organizational report. Representatives from various tehsils, including Turbat, Aapsar, Gokdan, Kalatuk, Kheddan, Nasirabad, Tump, Buleda, Hoshab, Shahrak, Dandar-Kolwah and Balagatar, presented their respective reports.
During the second session, party workers took part in discussions and raised questions regarding organizational matters and the political situation.
Several other central and district leaders also addressed the gathering, including Senator Akram Dashti, retired Justice Shakeel Ahmed Baloch, Turbat Mayor Balakh Sher Qazi, Advocate Nazimuddin, BSO Chairman Bohair Saleh Baloch, Muhammad Jan Dashti, Naveed Taj, Abdul Hafeez Ali Bakhsh and others.
