Chaman Border Closure Sparks Hunger and Suicide Risk, JI Condemns Raids on Qari Imdad’s House
*Quetta:* Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch, Provincial Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Gwadar, along with Chaman district leaders including Qari Attaullah Muslim, Dr. Bismillah Achakzai, and Maulvi Mustafa Aghajan, held a press conference at Chaman Press Club to condemn recent raids on political workers’ homes and violations of privacy and dignity.
Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman described the raids, including the targeting of JI’s Provincial Deputy General Secretary Qadri Imdadullah’s house, as “inhumane and unacceptable,” calling for immediate and transparent investigations. He emphasized that such violations of societal norms set a dangerous precedent for the wider community.
He highlighted that the prolonged closure of the Chaman border over the past four months has turned daily life into a struggle for the public. Rising unemployment and hunger have pushed some young people toward extreme actions, including suicide, pointing to the government’s failure. Despite valid passports and legal documents, the closure of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border has caused severe economic and social hardship for local residents.
The border shutdown has led to millions of rupees in losses for traders and transporters, and Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman demanded immediate compensation and relief for the affected. He also called for action against rising crime rates in Chaman due to economic hardship and unemployment.
Other demands included fair distribution of electricity amid load-shedding issues, strict adherence to merit in government departments, an end to public humiliation at checkpoints, and the removal of the Gardang checkpoint to stop unnecessary harassment.
The Jamaat-e-Islami leaders warned that if these issues are not addressed seriously, the public may be forced to exercise their constitutional and democratic right to protest.
