Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch Urges Political and Social Reforms for a Welfare State at National Party Workshop

Quetta, Pakistan:Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch, the leader of the National Party, delivered a comprehensive lecture at a political and organizational workshop where he outlined the party’s philosophy and objectives. Speaking on the party’s manifesto, Dr. Baloch emphasized that the National Party’s goals are rooted in its ideological approach to politics, focusing on the struggle to end national and class-based exploitation in Pakistan.

Dr. Baloch described Pakistan as a “multi-ethnic state,” where each community has its own language, culture, and land. He noted that national and class oppression has distorted the identities of these ethnic groups. The National Party, he said, is working to eradicate these systemic injustices.

He criticized the country’s foreign policy, highlighting the lack of meaningful public and institutional participation, which has led to Pakistan’s increasing isolation on the global stage. According to Dr. Baloch, the National Party stands firmly for the supremacy of the people, advocating that decisions should be made by elected representatives rather than imposed by elite circles.

Further expanding on the party’s vision, Dr. Baloch emphasized the National Party’s commitment to transforming Pakistan into a welfare state, where basic rights such as education, healthcare, and human dignity are guaranteed for all citizens. He pointed out that past military dictatorships have severely undermined Pakistan’s democratic processes, leaving citizens without fundamental rights, such as the right to vote, and fostering a system of legal and constitutional anomalies. Media control, judicial bias, and an ineffective Election Commission were among the key issues he highlighted.

Regarding Balochistan’s current situation, Dr. Baloch expressed grave concern, labeling it as one of the most corrupt regions in the country, hindered by poverty, illiteracy, and societal stagnation. He spoke about the province’s dependency on agriculture, but noted that declining water levels are pushing the sector into decline. He also pointed to the long history of resource exploitation, such as the extraction of gas from Balochistan, which was not provided to the local population but directed to industries across the country. Additionally, the fishing industry, which could be a significant contributor to the economy, has been handed over to trawler mafias.

Dr. Baloch also criticized the lack of development in resource-rich areas like Reko Diq, Sui, and Gwadar, where basic amenities are still lacking despite the extraction of vast resources. He recalled the brutal policies of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, who, using military force, plunged Balochistan into a state of violence and chaos.

While the atmosphere for negotiations seems bleak at present, Dr. Baloch reiterated that the National Party rejects the use of force and firmly believes that political dialogue is the only solution to Balochistan’s issues. He stressed that political negotiations, not military actions, are the path to resolving the region’s problems.

During the workshop, Shehzad Baloch, an IT expert, presented a session on the importance and effective use of social media. The event also saw the launch of the National Party’s official website. The workshop will continue the following day, with renowned scholar Professor Dr. Saeed Jafar scheduled to give a lecture on the political landscape of Pakistan and regional dynamics.

The workshop was attended by the National Party’s central and provincial leaders, along with district-level party members, all of whom remain committed to working toward social and political reforms in Balochistan and beyond.