Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch Urges End to Token System, Calls for Immediate Action on Missing Persons and Security Issues

Turbat:The central president of the National Party and former Chief Minister of Balochistan, Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch, has called for the abolition of the token system to make border trade freer and more accessible for the local population. He also emphasized the urgent need to address the growing issue of missing persons, ensure merit-based appointments in government jobs, and remove the unnecessary coast guard check post at Telar.

Dr. Baloch made these remarks during a special meeting with journalists from the Turbat Press Club at the National Party’s Kech district secretariat on Monday. National Party central committee member Waja Abul Hassan was also present at the occasion.

Dr. Baloch expressed concern over the increasing intensity of the missing persons issue, stating that it was becoming a source of growing anxiety in the region. He said, “The issue of missing persons is worsening day by day, and yet the federal and provincial governments are not taking this matter seriously, which is fueling unrest and anxiety among the public.”

**Failed Government and Growing Security Concerns**

Dr. Baloch criticized the current government formed after February 8, 2024, for being completely ineffective. He stated that the situation of law and order had deteriorated further, particularly in Kech and Panjgur, where daily killings of young people were taking place, and people continued to disappear without a trace. “The security situation is worsening, and the government is not taking any serious steps to address the issue. This is only contributing to the growing instability in the region.”

**Abolishing the Token System**

Regarding the border trade, Dr. Baloch raised concerns about the unnecessary restrictions imposed at the border, which he believes are harming the local population. He explained that many Baloch and Pashtun districts are located near the border, and people from these areas traditionally bring food and oil products across the border. However, due to excessive restrictions, including the token system and multiple check posts, the border has effectively been made inaccessible to the common people. Dr. Baloch said, “By holding the border hostage and using the token system, millions of rupees are collected daily, which is distributed from the local level to Islamabad. This practice must end.”

He further stated that the National Party would organize the public against the token system if it is not abolished soon. “We will lead a movement against this system and demand an end to it. The public should be freed from the agony of the token system.”

**Merit in Government Jobs**

Dr. Baloch also addressed the issue of corruption and nepotism in government jobs. He stated that the lack of merit in hiring for government positions was causing frustration among the youth. “If attempts are made to appoint individuals based on favoritism, especially in the recent education vacancies, the National Party will take strict action,” he warned. He also stressed that the resources available to the people of Balochistan, particularly the border and government jobs, must remain accessible to the local population and not be monopolized or restricted.

**Calls for Improved Law and Order**

Dr. Baloch urged the government to focus on maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety of the public. He said, “The government must prioritize security and take serious steps to protect the lives and property of the people.” He also highlighted the need to remove unnecessary obstacles that hinder the daily life of the people, including the removal of speed breakers in the city of Turbat, which he claimed were causing unnecessary inconvenience to residents.

**Removal of Telar Coast Guard Check Post**

One of Dr. Baloch’s key demands was the immediate removal of the coast guard check post at Telar, which he described as “unnecessary” and “counterproductive.” He added that it had become a routine practice for oil tankers to be stopped and harassed at the check post, causing undue mental stress to the drivers. “This behavior is unacceptable, and the government must take immediate action to remove this check post,” Dr. Baloch concluded.

In summary, Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch called for urgent reforms in border trade practices, the security situation, and government job appointments. He emphasized that the National Party would continue to work towards ensuring that the rights of the local population were upheld and that the region’s resources and opportunities were not taken away from the people.