Senator Jan Mohammad Baledi Urges National Dialogue for Resolving Balochistan’s Issues

Lahore:Senator Jan Mohammad Baledi, a leader of the National Party, addressed a seminar on “Balochistan’s Issues and Solutions” organized by Leader Media Group at the Lahore Press Club. Other prominent speakers included Mujib-ur-Rehman Shami and Imtiaz Alam, among others.

During his speech, Senator Baledi expressed deep concerns over the federal government’s negative and unjust attitude toward Balochistan. He emphasized that the region’s national, economic, and political rights have consistently been ignored by the government since the inception of Pakistan. He highlighted that Balochistan, which holds half of Pakistan’s landmass and is rich in mineral resources, continues to face a colonial mindset from the federal government, even after 77 years of Pakistan’s existence.

Baledi pointed out that despite the immense natural wealth of the province, the government prioritizes exploiting Balochistan’s resources, selling them cheaply on international markets, while ignoring the province’s people and their leadership. He criticized the federal government for not taking Balochistan’s economic and political interests into consideration, stating that the government’s disregard for the region’s welfare has only deepened over time.

He also addressed the issue of Balochistan’s population figures, highlighting that the results of the digital census had been manipulated, showing the province’s population as 80 million less than its actual size—an open fraud against the people of Balochistan. He lamented the denial of political representation for Balochistan, stating that the voices of the province’s genuine political parties and leadership were being sidelined, with mavericks and non-representative figures being brought into political offices instead.

Senator Baledi also expressed grave concern over the increasing disappearance of Baloch individuals, which remains one of the biggest issues facing the province. He criticized the state’s institutions for disregarding the rule of law and constitution, especially regarding enforced disappearances, and pointed out that the government has not been serious in addressing this crisis.

The senator also touched upon the corruption and nepotism that have reached alarming levels in Balochistan, including bribery in appointments, transfers, and postings, as well as the sale of jobs in the province. He pointed out that instead of solving Balochistan’s problems, these issues are becoming more complicated.

He noted that Baloch youth, along with women and children, have started protesting against these injustices and for the return of their missing loved ones. Despite the traditional respect for women in Baloch society, he lamented that the state and its institutions have been violating local customs by torturing and arresting women and children.

Baledi condemned terrorism in the strongest terms, stating that the killing of innocent people is unacceptable under any circumstances. He emphasized that the resolution of Balochistan’s issues lies in dialogue, not force, and called for the adoption of a national reconciliation policy by Pakistan’s major political parties and the state.

For a peaceful solution, Baledi suggested that all political prisoners and women be released, and the use of force should be avoided. He also urged the federal government to take concrete steps toward rebuilding trust in Balochistan by initiating negotiations, recovering missing persons, and addressing the province’s socio-economic issues. He advocated for providing employment opportunities to Baloch youth based on merit, ensuring legal protection for cross-border trade, and halting the sale of jobs.

In his concluding remarks, Baledi stressed the importance of prioritizing education and healthcare in Balochistan, completing the province’s infrastructure projects on priority, and ensuring equitable distribution of resources and powers to guarantee the equal development of all provinces in Pakistan.