Hafiz Naeem urges establishment to change policy on Balochistan

JI chief also addresses economic and infrastructural challenges faced by Balochistan.

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Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, has called on the establishment to change its policies towards Balochistan and ensure that the region's people are granted their rightful share of rights.

Speaking at a seminar titled "The Burning Issues of Balochistan and Their Solutions" at the Karachi Press Club, Rehman stressed that the ruling elite and the establishment must recognise the legitimate demands of Balochistan’s citizens. He stated that if the people of Balochistan were granted respect and their rights, they would prove to be even more patriotic.

"To resolve the issues of Balochistan, we must engage with the region's true leadership," he said. He added that the current representatives in Balochistan’s assembly were not truly representing the people of the province.

Rehman called for the activation of the commission for missing persons, urging that the use of force must stop and those who are missing should be returned. He asserted that if anyone is a criminal or terrorist, they should be tried in courts according to the Constitution and law.

"There is nothing in any constitution that permits people to be forcibly disappeared," Rehman remarked, reaffirming his support for the Baloch leadership in Karachi.

Jamaat-e-Islami, he said, would raise its voice across the country for Balochistan's rights, adding that the party was planning large rallies in Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar, including a historic gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore.

Rehman also addressed the economic and infrastructural challenges faced by Balochistan. He urged the government to ensure the provision of basic necessities and facilities to the people of Balochistan, which he noted could be a key player in Pakistan’s development.

He highlighted that Balochistan holds immense potential for solar energy production and should receive a larger share of the profits from its mineral resources.

Rehman proposed that 20% of the revenues from Balochistan’s mineral resources be allocated to the province’s people, which he believes would help accelerate both regional and national development. He further emphasised the need for a motorway connecting Quetta to Karachi, pointing out that the lack of infrastructure was causing annual fatalities.

"Every year, 8,000 people lose their lives in road accidents between Quetta and Karachi due to the lack of proper roads," he concluded.