Jamaat-e-Islami’s Hidayat-ur-Rehman Calls for Mass Protest Against Military Operations in Balochistan
Quetta:In a powerful address at a public gathering at **Mir Gul Khan Naseer Chowk** in Quetta, **Molana Hidayat-ur-Rehman**, the Provincial Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami and MPA from Gwadar, condemned the ongoing military operations in Balochistan and the enforced disappearances of Baloch individuals. He called on the people of Balochistan to unite and take to the streets to demand justice and the restoration of their rights.
Speaking passionately, Hidayat-ur-Rehman stated that the youth in the mountains of Balochistan should not be labeled as terrorists. Instead, he accused the rulers in **Islamabad and Rawalpindi**, along with the **FC (Frontier Corps)**, as the real perpetrators of violence in the region. He asserted that **”The real terrorists are the rulers of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, not the Baloch youth in the mountains.”**
Hidayat-ur-Rehman further criticized the government’s handling of the **China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)**, arguing that while CPEC was presented as a source of prosperity for Balochistan, it was only benefiting **Punjab**, with the people of Balochistan suffering. “CPEC is bringing development to Punjab, while Balochistan is facing bombings. Our border businesses are shut down, while the drug trade continues to flourish,” he remarked.
He also raised concerns about the **Indo-Pakistan border**, stating that while businesses on the Indian side were thriving, the people of Balochistan were being denied their right to trade with neighboring countries. “We are denied the right to trade with our neighboring Islamic countries, yet India has free trade along its borders,” he added.
Addressing the growing militarization in Balochistan, Hidayat-ur-Rehman warned that the rulers in **Islamabad** were planning another military operation in the province. “The rulers in Rawalpindi have once again decided to launch a military operation in Balochistan, targeting both Baloch and Pashtun people. They have decided to orphan our children and widowed our mothers and sisters,” he said.
He called on the people of Balochistan to come together and make a collective decision about their future. “Now, we must decide whether we want to live with dignity or in humiliation,” he stated.
Hidayat-ur-Rehman further criticized former Prime Ministers **Nawaz Sharif** and **Asif Ali Zardari**, claiming that they had caused more harm to Pakistan than the laborers on the borders of Balochistan. “Nawaz Sharif and Zardari have caused more damage to Pakistan than the workers on the borders,” he said.
In a final call to action, he urged the people of Balochistan to prepare for a **long march towards Quetta** to demand the recovery of their missing persons and the end of military operations. “If our rights are not given, we will launch a movement for freedom. The people of Balochistan should prepare for a long march towards Quetta,” he concluded.
This strong speech by Hidayat-ur-Rehman reflects the growing unrest in Balochistan, where people are demanding an end to military operations, enforced disappearances, and a greater share in the benefits of development in the region.
