Jamaat-e-Islami’s Hidayat-ur-Rehman to Lead Long March from Quetta to Islamabad for Balochistan’s Rights

Quetta, Pakistan:Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch, the Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami in Balochistan and Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA), announced that he would lead a long march from Quetta to Islamabad on July 25, with the primary goal of bringing Balochistan’s issues to the forefront of the national stage. Addressing a press conference at the Long March Awareness Camp in front of Balochistan University in Saryab, Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman said that the long march would serve as a call for justice and demand for the rightful share of Balochistan in major national projects like CPEC and Reko Diq.

Accompanied by key party figures including Deputy Amir Zahid Akhtar Baloch, Bashir Ahmad Mandai, District Amir of Quetta Abdul Naeem Randh, and Abdul Wali Khan Shakir, Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman strongly criticized the government’s failure to address the issues facing Balochistan. He stated, “Everyone knows the real power dynamics in Balochistan. The province’s affairs are being controlled remotely from Islamabad, while the people of Balochistan remain voiceless.”

In his address, Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman pointed out several key demands for the betterment of Balochistan. These included:

* Opening all border crossings with Iran and Afghanistan to combat poverty and unemployment.
* Putting an end to the enforced disappearances of Baloch citizens and the horrific discovery of mutilated bodies.
* Ensuring the benefits of CPEC reach the people of Balochistan and are not monopolized by outsiders.
* Providing an opportunity for locally elected representatives to serve the people, rather than allowing a “remote-controlled” government to hold power.

He emphasized that the 25th July long march was not only about raising awareness but also about finding solutions to Balochistan’s ongoing crises, including growing violence, government inaction, and a lack of public safety. “Instead of taking real action, the government simply issues advisories telling people not to travel. This is not governance,” he said.

Maulana Hidayat also pointed out the critical economic situation in the region due to the closure of borders, which has led to rising unemployment and mental distress among the people. He criticized the role of the federal government and highlighted that even the Governor of Balochistan had no real authority, serving only ceremonial purposes.

He also raised concerns over political victimization, calling for an end to such practices and for the restoration of peaceful political activism in Balochistan. “Balochistan is not a prison, it is a land of peace and rightful aspirations,” he added.

The long march on July 25 is set to be a major step in highlighting Balochistan’s political and economic grievances and seeking redress at the national level. Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman and his party leaders remain determined to bring these issues to the forefront of the national discourse.