National Party Leader Rahmat Saleh Baloch Criticizes Government Policies, Supports Gwadar APDM Protest

Quetta:Rahmat Saleh Baloch, a central leader of the National Party and Deputy Parliamentary Leader of Balochistan Assembly, has expressed strong support for the ongoing All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) protest in Gwadar. He criticized the government’s unjust and oppressive policies, accusing them of pushing the people of Balochistan into extreme economic distress.

Baloch stated that the people of Balochistan are suffering due to the government’s incompetence and exploitative attitudes. He specifically pointed out that restrictions on economic activities in Gwadar, Turbat, Panjgur, and other areas of Makran Division amount to an open hostility toward the local population. “An absurd situation has been created where vehicles from Gwadar are not allowed to enter Turbat, and similarly, vehicles from Panjgur are blocked from traveling to Gwadar and Turbat. This has severely disrupted the movement of the people and their access to livelihood opportunities,” he said.

He condemned the harassment of people at the Telar checkpoint, calling it cruel and inhuman. He described the unwarranted harassment of poor citizens, travelers, and vehicle owners as a clear example of government indifference and tyranny. “Imposing restrictions on the movement of the people and subjecting them to humiliating behavior is the worst form of governmental apathy and cruelty,” Baloch added.

Baloch emphasized that the people of Panjgur, Turbat, and Gwadar depend heavily on border trade for their livelihoods, and by imposing restrictions on this, the government has left thousands of families struggling for basic sustenance. He termed this treatment of Balochistan’s people as an example of state repression. He also highlighted how illegal trawling activities have turned the sea from a source of livelihood into a void of deprivation for local fishermen. Under government patronage, powerful mafias are ruthlessly exploiting marine resources, leaving local fishermen unable to even provide one meal for their children.

Baloch called these actions not mere governmental negligence but a direct assault on the rights of the people. He strongly supported the ongoing Gwadar APDM protest, stating that it was a legitimate expression of the public’s struggle for their rights. He appealed to all political parties, social organizations, and the people of Balochistan to unite and stand against these anti-people policies, urging them to make the struggle for the protection of Balochistan’s resources and people’s rights a success.

He also demanded that the government immediately halt illegal trawling, end the harassment at checkpoints, and lift the restrictions on border trade to restore the rights of the people of Balochistan. “If these demands are not met, public anger will become unbearable for the rulers,” he warned.