KARACHI: Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan Ameer Engr Hafiz Naeemur Rehman strongly backed the long march for Balochistan’s rights, calling it a legitimate and constitutional protest. He urged the government to allow citizens to exercise their rights without interference.
Addressing a press conference at Idara Noor-e-Haq — JI Karachi’s headquarters — on Monday, Hafiz Naeem, joined by JI Karachi Ameer Monem Zafar Khan and other party leaders, warned the government against creating obstacles for the march. He assured that the caravan would remain peaceful if the authorities refrained from imposing hurdles.
He highlighted unemployment and the issue of missing persons as two of Balochistan’s most pressing concerns. He argued that the prolonged sense of deprivation had caused deep frustration among the people, which hostile powers have exploited to serve their interests.
The JI chief urged the state not to discourage those seeking justice through constitutional means, warning that such an approach would only strengthen anti-state propaganda. He pointed out that the march had unified Pakistanis across regions, noting the warm welcome the caravan received in every city of Punjab it passed through — a sign of growing solidarity amid ongoing ethnic-based violence in Balochistan.
He criticized the continued denial of basic services to Balochistan, especially natural gas, even though the province has been supplying gas to the rest of the country since the 1950s and 1960s. He also stressed that despite being rich in minerals and metals, Balochistan offers few opportunities to its youth, leading to rising unemployment and unrest.
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Hafiz Naeem praised Maulana Hidayatur Rehman and his colleagues for their commitment and sacrifices, stating that the state must urgently rethink its approach toward Balochistan. He firmly demanded answers about the missing persons, saying the government must either present them in court or provide credible information about whether they are abroad or linked with insurgent groups.
