Senators Demand Action on Missing Persons in Balochistan, Call for Right-Sizing Government Ministries

Islamabad:During a session of the Senate on Wednesday, Senator Kamran Murtaza from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) expressed concerns over the increasing incidents of people being abducted in Balochistan, alleging that security forces were involved in these disappearances. He claimed that protests were being suppressed by blocking roads in Balochistan and criticized the lack of government authority in areas like Mach.

Senator Murtaza further claimed that despite the presence of federal forces, the government’s writ was non-existent in parts of the province. He warned that Balochistan was increasingly becoming alienated due to the deteriorating situation in the region.

In response, Federal Minister for Law Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar acknowledged the issue, stating that the federal government had re-established the Missing Persons Commission. He mentioned that the Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, had set up a cabinet committee to address the problem in Balochistan. Senator Tarar assured that all cases of enforced disappearances would be handled within the constitutional and legal framework, emphasizing that those accused of crimes should be dealt with lawfully.

Senator Tarar also commented on the government’s broader reform agenda, mentioning efforts to right-size various government ministries. The cabinet has approved the right-sizing process for several ministries, including those of IT, Kashmir Affairs, National Health Services, and others, with further plans for more ministries in the coming phases.

Additionally, during the session, the Ministry of IT reported that there were 1,015 complaints of internet service disruptions from July 1 to December 31, 2023. Despite issues with internet speed, ICT exports saw a 24.15% increase, reaching $13.23 billion in the fiscal year 2023-24.

Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar assured that the federal government was focused on creating a conducive environment for business, stating that government involvement in business activities had led to financial losses, particularly in state-owned enterprises. He emphasized that the focus would now be on streamlining operations and ensuring that rightsizing efforts would not result in unnecessary unemployment.

The meeting concluded with a focus on the need for continued dialogue and policy decisions to address the ongoing challenges in Balochistan, as well as the restructuring of federal ministries for better efficiency.