QUETTA: Senior figures from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have issued a stark warning about the declining political and security situation in Balochistan, demanding immediate dialogue and reconciliation as the only viable solution.
Nawab Jangayz Marri, a tribal chief and Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA), and Senator Mir Dostain Khan Domki spoke to journalists in Quetta, where they launched a severe criticism of the provincial government led by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti. They asserted that law and order has significantly worsened since he took office.
The leaders revealed that a two-and-a-half-year power-sharing pact was agreed between the PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) when the government was formed, a deal they have now brought to the forefront of national discussion.
While the PML-N leaders praised Field Marshal General Syed Asim Munir’s vision for peace and development in Balochistan, they accused the provincial administration of undermining these efforts. They alleged that instead of tackling governance, unemployment, and inflation, the government is mired in “corruption, favouritism, and mismanagement of public funds.”
Nawab Jangayz Marri disclosed that the PML-N leadership recently met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to brief him on the province’s crises. He described the meeting as “encouraging,” noting that the Prime Minister gave his assurances that effective steps would be taken.
“Peace and stability cannot be achieved without dialogue,” Marri stated. “The Army Chief’s sincerity is commendable, but provincial authorities are failing to translate those efforts into reality.”
He also pointed to foreign interference, specifically from India, in the province’s affairs, arguing that acknowledgement is not enough and must be met with a decisive counter-strategy.
Senator Domki directly linked the worsening conditions to the policies of the current Chief Minister. He claimed that since the PPP first came to power in 2008 and promised a reform package for Balochistan, no meaningful progress has been made.
“Today, Balochistan is burning,” Domki said. “Businesses have shut down, train services are halted, and night-time transportation has stopped. Yet no one is addressing the people’s grievances.”
Confirming the power-sharing agreement, Domki explained that it allows for a change in leadership after two and a half years. He said they have formally requested both the Prime Minister and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for an “in-house change” in the provincial government to stabilise the situation.
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Emphasising that negotiation is the only path to peace, Domki concluded, “State institutions are performing their duties, but the provincial government is not. It must act responsibly to restore peace and put Balochistan on the path of progress.”
