Quetta:Nawab Ayaz Khan Jogezai, the central secretary of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and Chief of Pashtun, has called for a united response from all ethnic groups living in Balochistan to address the ongoing challenges facing the province, including the recent abduction of a young boy, Masoor Kakr. Speaking at a protest rally in Quetta’s Serena Chowk on Tuesday, he emphasized that if the people of Balochistan do not put aside their political and ethnic differences, incidents like the abduction of Masoor Kakr would continue and the region could also become a battleground for foreign powers like the United States and China.

Masoor Kakr, a school student, was abducted five days ago, and despite the passing of time, authorities have not made significant progress in locating him. Nawab Jogezai criticized the current leadership for their lack of action, saying that those who came into power through “Form 47” (a reference to a controversial electoral practice) were nowhere to be seen when the people needed them the most. “Their eyes and mouths are covered with bandages, and they are silent on this critical issue,” he remarked.

He highlighted that such tragic incidents were not isolated and had occurred in the past, but without collective action from all communities—Baloch, Pashtun, Hazara, and others—these kinds of crimes would persist. He warned that the exploitation of Balochistan’s rich natural resources could also escalate if local communities do not unite.

Nawab Jogezai also pointed out the failure of state institutions to protect the public. “The state and establishment are supposed to protect the people, but the powerful classes are only looking out for their own interests while the common people suffer,” he said. He expressed his belief that the ongoing incidents of abduction and violence were part of a larger plan to pave the way for targeted military operations and to undermine local communities.

He further accused the government of using the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans to benefit the elites while the public continues to face severe challenges. He added, “The resources of this land are being eyed by foreign powers, and the local population is being economically and educationally weakened. Our children, who live in a land rich in minerals, are being forced into labor.”

Referring to historical injustices, he said that local tribes had protected their land and mountains for centuries, but now, non-local individuals were being given land allotments, marginalizing the indigenous population. He warned that if the local people did not recognize the dangers and take action, they would face a dire future.

Drawing a parallel with the U.S. civil rights movement, Nawab Jogezai urged that, like the African-American community in the U.S. who forced their government to take action after the killing of George Floyd, Balochistan’s people must hold the powerful accountable. “We will also force the powerful to kneel before us,” he vowed.

He called for solidarity across ethnic lines, stressing that only through unity could the people of Balochistan address their challenges. “Without unity between Pashtuns, Baloch, and other ethnic groups, we have no hope,” he stated.

Jogezai also announced that Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party would fully support the decisions made by the protest committee. He urged party members to ensure their children’s participation in the upcoming demonstration scheduled for Wednesday.

“If the innocent child is not found, I will bring my own container here and sit with the protesters,” he declared, signaling his commitment to taking further action if the situation does not improve.