Jamaat-e-Islami Balochistan to Launch Long March from Quetta to Islamabad
Quetta, Pakistan:MPA Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch, the Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Balochistan, announced that the party would be launching a major long march from Dera Ismail Khan in Punjab to Islamabad. The march is aimed at raising awareness about the unresolved issues of Balochistan and to demand urgent reforms from the federal government.
In a media briefing at the Jamaat-e-Islami awareness camp on Jinnah Road, Baloch highlighted that the party would hold a sit-in protest in front of the Parliament House. “The Balochistan government has no authority to resolve the province’s issues, which is why we are heading towards the people who hold real power,” he stated, adding that the ruling elite in Islamabad and the military establishment are responsible for the ongoing challenges faced by the province.
Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman further criticized the lack of control over key institutions in Balochistan. He said, “Unfortunately, the media, judiciary, assembly, and elected representatives in Balochistan are all under control, which is only exacerbating our problems instead of resolving them.”
He emphasized that this march would be a historic event, with large numbers of people from Balochistan and other provinces joining along the way. “The long march will receive a warm welcome as we move from Quetta to Islamabad, with people joining the caravan from major towns and cities. This march is not only supported by Jamaat-e-Islami but also by many democratic and religious parties across Balochistan,” he said.
The main demands of the march include the reopening of trade routes and borders, including Chaman, Turbat, and Gwadar, to revitalize the economy and create jobs. Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman also called for the recovery of missing persons, the equitable distribution of the benefits of CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor), and better protection for public life, particularly along major highways.
“We are fighting for the safety and well-being of the people of Balochistan. The federal government must address these issues. It is time that political prisoners are released, and the legitimate demands of the people are acknowledged,” he added.
The rally will also focus on the human rights violations and the exploitation of Balochistan’s resources, which Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman believes parallels the situation in East Pakistan before its separation. He warned that the continued injustice and oppression could lead the region down a path of destruction and division.
The long march, scheduled for July 25, will begin from Quetta and make its way to Islamabad, where it aims to put pressure on the federal government to resolve Balochistan’s longstanding issues. “Jamaat-e-Islami is a party of the people, and we will continue our struggle alongside the public for their rights,” he concluded.
