Unrest at Its Peak in Balochistan; Government Should Focus on Establishing Peace Instead of Targeting Political Workers: Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman
People Are Disappearing and Highways Are Unsafe; Putting Democratic Activists on the Fourth Schedule Is Proof of Government Incompetence: Conversation with Home Secretary
QUETTA (Daily Quadrat Quetta) — Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Balochistan and Member of the Balochistan Assembly Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch has said that the government and relevant institutions, instead of adding the names of political workers to the Fourth Schedule, should focus on restoring peace and order in the province, ending enforced disappearances and protecting the lives and property of the people.
Speaking during a meeting with Balochistan Home Secretary Hamza Shafqaat, Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch said unrest is at its peak in Balochistan, people are disappearing and highways are closed. In such circumstances, raising one’s voice on public issues and hardships is the democratic right of political parties and workers. If political parties will not engage in democratic protest and resistance over public issues, then who will?
Condemning the registration of cases against political workers engaged in peaceful democratic struggle and the inclusion of their names in the Fourth Schedule, he said that instead of suppressing political workers, their reservations should be addressed and citizens’ fundamental rights should be ensured in accordance with the Constitution and law.
The meeting discussed important matters including the restoration of peace and order in Balochistan, the elimination of enforced disappearances and the removal of the names of political workers included in the Fourth Schedule from the list. Additional Home Secretary Jameel Rind was also present on the occasion.
Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch urged the relevant authorities to take the issue of enforced disappearances seriously, take practical steps for the recovery of the missing persons and make immediate progress on the matter of removing political workers from the Fourth Schedule.
He said restricting peaceful political activities will not solve problems but will increase anxiety among the people, so all matters should be resolved through understanding and serious dialogue.
On the occasion, Balochistan Home Secretary Hamza Shafqaat assured that all possible steps would be taken on these matters.
