QUETTA: In a significant political alignment, former Senator Nawabzada Haji Mir Lashkari Khan Raisani joined forces with Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) to condemn the provincial Mines and Minerals Act, framing it as a critical test for Balochistan’s political conscience. Following a meeting with JI’s provincial amir and MPA, Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch, the leaders held a joint press conference at the JI secretariat on Thursday, issuing a stark warning about the legislation.
Raisani declared the act a pivotal “moment of reflection” for the youth, students, and political workers of the province. He argued that stopping the bill in the assembly was the only way to restore public trust in the political process. “Under this act, the natural resources of Balochistan are being looted under the guise of law,” Raisani asserted, warning that future generations would not forgive today’s representatives if it passes.
The former senator revealed that discussions on amending the act are ongoing and appealed directly to JI’s two assembly members to spearhead opposition against it. He emphasized that the law’s reversal was essential to transfer control of the province’s resources back to Balochistan.
Echoing the sentiment, Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch welcomed the collaboration, stating that Balochistan has never been treated as a true national unit and its resources are looted like “war spoils.” He pledged to fight for provincial rights both inside and outside the assembly. Raisani further disclosed that while other parties have prepared proposals, he would push for an All-Parties Conference (APC) called by the opposition leader to formulate a unified resistance strategy, citing the historical exploitation of Balochistan’s gas, Saindak, and Reko Diq as bitter precedents.
Meanwhile the Balochistan government has moved forward with a significant initiative to enhance urban mobility, focusing on improving access to critical healthcare facilities. A high-level meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, was convened to review the project for extending the provincial capital’s Green Bus Service to the Health Services Projects Area.
The session involved a detailed review of the expansion project’s progress, proposed new bus routes, and strategies to elevate the quality of public transport. The primary goal is to facilitate easier and more timely travel for citizens, with a special emphasis on patients, their attendants, and medical staff commuting to the major health precinct.
