BNP Criticizes CM’s Remarks on Mother-Tongue Poetry, Calls It an Attack on Cultural Identity

Quetta:** The Balochistan National Party (BNP) has expressed concern over remarks describing poetry in mother tongues as a potential threat, calling the statement deeply regrettable and alarming.

In a statement issued from Quetta, the party said it was unfortunate that the Chief Minister of Balochistan, **Sarfaraz Bugti**, had made remarks against his own mother tongue and its literary heritage. The statement noted that it was perhaps the first time in history that a person appeared to blame his own language and culture.

The BNP emphasized that Baloch poetry has for centuries been a voice of peace, awareness, love, resistance, and social justice. According to the party, this literary tradition has preserved the history, culture, and collective emotions of the Baloch people.

The statement further said that any attempt to impose restrictions on poetry or limit literary academies would amount to an attack on freedom of expression and cultural identity, which should have no place in a civilized society.

The party also referred to the issue of missing persons, stating that those who once claimed that only a few individuals were missing have now acknowledged that it is a serious issue and that such individuals would be kept in designated centers. BNP questioned who would be held accountable for the thousands of Baloch who had previously gone missing.

Criticizing the government’s policies, the party alleged that instead of reducing official expenditures, the current rulers were imposing austerity measures that could lead to unemployment. The statement opposed the reported abolition of **800 posts**, describing it as an unjustified decision.

The BNP also criticized what it called the division between “good” and “bad” Baloch, warning that such policies were pushing young people toward a point of no return. It added that cutting funds for academies established to promote regional languages and restricting access to educational institutions for the people of Balochistan showed that the government was not committed to public welfare.

The party maintained that the Baloch issue requires a political solution rather than the use of force, and that claims about creating employment opportunities and bringing an educational revolution would only be proven through practical action.

The statement concluded that in the 21st century it is no longer possible to mislead the people of Balochistan, and attempts on social media to spread fabricated claims against the party leadership would not succeed in misleading the public.