Recruitment Based on Nepotism and Recommendations Leaves Deserving Youth on the Streets; Balochistan CM Should Administer a Public Oath to Ministers: Rahmat Baloch

Quetta – National Party central leader and Deputy Parliamentary Leader in the Balochistan Assembly, Mir Rahmat Saleh Baloch, has expressed serious concern over irregularities, nepotism, favoritism, and the violation of merit in recruitment for Forest Department positions in Panjgur, saying that government jobs are not the property of any individual, family, or political group but a public trust. Recruitment to these positions should be carried out only under the principles of transparency, impartiality, and merit.

He said that the complaints emerging regarding recent recruitments in the Forest Department in Panjgur are extremely worrying. Local youth have been waiting for government jobs for years and, despite completing their education, face unemployment. But if people from other districts are appointed instead of them and local candidates are ignored despite merit, this is not just the deprivation of a few individuals but an injustice to the youth of the entire region.

He said that behind the political, economic, and social difficulties Balochistan faces today are factors including years of ongoing injustices, unfair distribution of resources, the violation of merit, a culture of favoritism, and keeping youth deprived of their legitimate rights. When a capable and deserving young person is repeatedly denied merit, their confidence begins to erode not just in one department but in the entire system.

Mir Rahmat Saleh Baloch said that if the government truly considers merit and transparency a fundamental principle of its policy, it must not remain limited to claims and statements on the assembly floor but must prove through practical action that bribery, political interference, favoritism, and nepotism in government jobs will not be tolerated.

He demanded that the Chief Minister of Balochistan order an impartial and transparent audit of recruitments and appointments made in various departments in the recent period, make merit lists and all stages of recruitment public, and order independent investigations in case of complaints. He said that claims made on the assembly floor regarding merit and transparency should not become mere political statements, and the oath administered to secretaries should not prove to be just a piece of paper. If the Chief Minister is truly serious about merit, then ministers should also be made to take a public oath that they will not give even a single government job on the basis of bribery, favoritism, political affiliation, or personal relationships.

He said that serious questions are also being raised regarding appointments issued by some departments in the recent period. Instead of merit, money, personal, and family relationships were given preference, and sons, nephews, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, and cousins were favored, which is a clear violation of the principle of merit. Strict legal action should be taken against those responsible.

He said that a culture of money and nepotism in government institutions is destructive for any society, because on one hand capable and qualified people are deprived of opportunities to advance, while on the other hand incompetence and corruption are promoted. It is the government’s responsibility to eliminate an environment in departments where any young person feels that education and ability are less necessary than recommendations and connections for getting a job.

He said that we want to assure Balochistan’s youth that their future is linked to their ability, education, and hard work, not to the recommendation of any political figure, minister, officer, or influential family. If the government fails to restore this basic confidence, the disappointment among youth will deepen further.

He said that depriving the people of Panjgur of government jobs available in their own district is unacceptable in any way. Those who use government jobs for money, personal interests, relationships, or political influence must be made an example so that in the future no one can use a government position or authority to rob the public of its rights. Accountability should apply not only to the weak but also to the influential.

He said that the National Party will not compromise on merit, transparency, the supremacy of law, and the fundamental rights of the people. They will raise this issue forcefully inside the Balochistan Assembly as well, convey the people’s voice to the authorities through the media, and, if necessary, approach other constitutional and legal forums.

Mir Rahmat Saleh Baloch said that if the government does not take immediate notice of the violation of merit, nepotism, and irregularities, the people will be justified in believing that claims of merit and transparency are limited to words alone. The government must now decide whether it stands with merit, justice, and the rights of youth, or wants to continue the old system of favoritism and nepotism.

He demanded that the Chief Minister of Balochistan and relevant authorities order transparent investigations into all controversial appointments made in the recent period, including the Forest Department recruitments in Panjgur, identify those responsible, give deserving candidates their right, and take practical and reliable measures to eliminate the impression of the buying and selling of government jobs, favoritism, and nepotism.

He said that for the protection of public rights, the future of youth, and merit, the National Party will continue to raise its voice on every constitutional, democratic, and legal forum and will continue its struggle against the violation of merit without any pressure.