Turbat Held Hostage, Administration Helpless Before Thieves and Extortionists: Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch
TURBAT – National Party President and former Chief Minister of Balochistan Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch has declared that Turbat has been taken hostage, with the administration appearing completely powerless in the face of rising crime, extortion, and lawlessness .
Speaking at a press conference in Turbat, Dr. Baloch condemned the deteriorating security situation, stating that the closure of border trade and imposition of “oppressive taxes” amount to an economic slaughter of the people of Makran, leaving thousands of families struggling for basic survival .
He alleged that the political and business space was being systematically eliminated, forcing citizens to live under a shadow of fear. He called upon all political parties and the public to take to the streets to protest the situation .
Extortion, Robberies, and Administrative Failure
Dr. Baloch highlighted that the law and order situation in Kech district had remained extremely concerning over the past month, with daily reports of robberies and criminal incidents . He cited an incident in Sari Kahan where multiple shops were looted in a single day, and a person was allegedly kidnapped, yet the FIR reportedly omitted the abduction charge.
He expressed frustration with the administration, saying that when approached about security, officials plead helplessness. “If the administration and relevant institutions are unable to act against thieves and robbers, they should clearly tell the public that they are powerless,” he stated .
The former chief minister also claimed that citizens who apprehended criminals and handed them over to authorities often later saw them released, a matter he termed highly concerning.
Economic Strangulation Through Border Trade Restrictions
Dr. Baloch noted that the primary sources of livelihood for the people of Makran — agriculture, border trade, and employment linked to the Gulf region — have been severely impacted . He said border trade is being shut down under various pretexts, while taxes and restrictions on border commerce have increased abnormally, threatening to multiply the prices of essential commodities.
He stated that traders and businessmen are facing threats of extortion via telephone calls, citing the example of a medical store owner who received extortion calls from various numbers and even faced gunfire at his shop .
“I appeal to businesspeople to step out of fear and bring incidents of extortion and threatening calls to light so that this issue can be raised collectively,” he said .
Public Movement Restrictions
Dr. Baloch also expressed concern over the recent blocking of roads in Turbat, which restricted citizens’ movement, prevented doctors from reaching hospitals, and denied media representatives access to the press club. Patients and ordinary citizens faced severe hardships during this period .
“The situation is that Turbat has been taken hostage, and citizens feel completely unsafe,” he concluded .
