Jamaat-e-Islami Balochistan Announces Province-Wide Public Referendum on Frontier Corps

Quetta: Jamaat-e-Islami Balochistan has announced plans to hold a province-wide public referendum to gauge public opinion on the role of the Frontier Corps (FC), while calling for greater authority and resources to be given to the Levies Force to improve security in the province.

Speaking at the party’s provincial secretariat during meetings with various delegations, Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch, the provincial chief of Jamaat-e-Islami and a member of the Balochistan Assembly, said lasting peace in the province requires strengthening the Levies Force with full powers, adequate resources, and modern facilities.

He expressed concern over what he described as rising incidents of insecurity, terrorism, and the recovery of bodies of young people in Balochistan, saying residents increasingly feel unsafe regarding the protection of their lives and property. He stressed that ensuring public safety is a fundamental responsibility of the state and its institutions.

Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman also alleged that complaints of mistreatment, humiliation, and extortion at security checkpoints have created widespread public dissatisfaction. He said the proposed referendum aims to determine public opinion regarding the FC’s role in the province.

The Jamaat-e-Islami leader stated that the party would continue to pursue its campaign for peace, protection of public rights, the rule of law, and the safety of citizens through constitutional, legal, and democratic means.

Referring to the ongoing Ziarat sit-in, he said the protest represents a joint struggle by local residents, political parties, and tribal elders, and would continue until its demands are met. He called on the government to accept what he described as the protesters’ legitimate demands, conduct a transparent investigation into the incident, and ensure justice for the affected families to restore public confidence in state institutions.