Balochistan Rich in Natural Resources, But People Lack Peace, Jobs, and Basic Sustenance: Maulana Hidayatur Rehman

QUETTA – Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Balochistan and Member of the Provincial Assembly, Maulana Hidayatur Rehman Baloch, has stated that despite being blessed with abundant natural resources, the people of Balochistan are in dire need of peace, employment, and two square meals a day. He criticized the rulers and relevant institutions for abandoning the people to their fate, resulting in insecurity, unemployment, inflation, corruption, and lack of basic facilities that have made life miserable for citizens.

Addressing a meeting of provincial office-bearers at the Jamaat-e-Islami Balochistan secretariat, Maulana Hidayatur Rehman said that the party has consistently raised its voice against oppression, injustice, lawlessness, and insecurity on every forum, and will continue peaceful and democratic struggle until the people’s rights are secured.

The meeting, attended by Provincial Deputy Ameer and Parliamentary Secretary Engineer Abdul Majeed Badini, Provincial General Secretary Murtaza Khan Kakar, Deputy Ameers Zahid Akhtar Baloch and Bashir Ahmed Mandai, Professor Maulana Muhammad Ayub Mansoor, Maulana Muhammad Arif Damar, Kisan Board Balochistan President Lal Bakhsh Khosa, Deputy General Secretaries Professor Sultan Muhammad Kakar, Sultan Muhammad Mehanti, Qari Imdadullah, Muhammad Yousuf Mangriyo, District Ameer Quetta Abdul Naeem Rind, Media In-charge Abdul Wali Khan Shakir, Ruhullah Salar, Ahmed Shah Ghazi, and other provincial officials, reviewed the recent wheel-jam strike, public sit-in outside Governor House, and shutter-down strike. Provincial and sectoral officials presented their performance reports, and detailed consultations were held on future strategy.

Provincial leaders noted that the people of Balochistan continue to suffer from persistent problems. Due to insecurity and lack of protection, citizens have become confined to their own homes, while the closure of highways and border routes has severely impacted the province’s economy and social fabric. Business, trade, employment, and the movement of ordinary citizens are facing immense difficulties.

Speakers stated that due to the negligence of rulers and poor performance of institutions, people in various parts of Balochistan feel unsafe. They demanded that the government take serious and practical measures to resolve public issues.

Maulana Hidayatur Rehman Baloch emphasized that the people of Balochistan do not want charity – they want their basic rights, peace, employment, dignity, and safe passage. The local population has the primary right over the province’s resources, yet despite resource abundance, the people of Balochistan suffer from poverty, backwardness, and deprivation.

He highlighted that youth are troubled by unemployment, traders are mired in business difficulties, and ordinary citizens are plagued by the deteriorating law and order situation. The government and relevant institutions must take immediate steps to ensure public safety, secure highways, open border routes, restore trade, and eliminate illegal extraction of petroleum products.

The Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami Balochistan warned that the public should not be forced to take to the streets and protest. Instead, their legitimate demands should be recognized immediately. He noted that recent wheel-jams, sit-ins, and shutter-down strikes were part of peaceful protest for public issues and rights.

He said the unity, discipline, and full cooperation demonstrated by the people of Balochistan during protests prove that the public is now awakened to their rights.

Maulana Hidayatur Rehman Baloch affirmed that Jamaat-e-Islami Balochistan will not leave the people alone. The party will raise a strong voice on every constitutional and democratic forum for the resolution of all legitimate issues, including peace, employment, education, health, trade, restoration of border routes, protection of highways, and elimination of corruption.

He urged provincial leaders and workers to further strengthen ties with the public, activate organizational activities at district and tehsil levels, and highlight public issues in an organized manner.

Maulana Hidayatur Rehman concluded that the people of Balochistan must have the right to make their own decisions about their future. It is the government’s responsibility to liberate the people of this resource-rich province from deprivation, insecurity, and poverty. He warned that if public issues are not resolved, Jamaat-e-Islami will expand the scope of peaceful and constitutional struggle alongside the people.