Quetta: The Baloch Students Organization (BSO) has strongly condemned the closure of the Balochi, Brahui and Pashto language departments at the University of Balochistan, calling it a direct attack on the cultural and civilizational heritage of indigenous communities.
In an official statement, the central spokesperson of the BSO expressed grave concern over the university’s decision, labeling it a form of “linguistic hostility” and a threat to the collective identity of the Baloch, Pashtun and Brahui Language. The BSO has demanded an immediate reversal of the decision, emphasizing that language is not merely a means of communication, but a vessel for societal values, emotions, aesthetics and historical consciousness.
“Language represents the intellectual and cultural depth of a community,” the spokesperson stated. “To undermine it is to weaken the foundation of life itself. The development of a language is intrinsically linked to the progress of its people. We see this act as part of a broader campaign of cultural erasure and vow to resist it through democratic means.”
The statement also criticized broader policies affecting the University of Balochistan, claiming that it has long been subjected to systematic decline. Cited issues include the establishment of military checkpoints on campus, exorbitant tuition fee hikes, inadequate and unreliable transportation, harassment of female students and the closure of student hostels. The BSO asserts that the latest move to shut down language departments is a continuation of these anti-student measures, which threaten the very existence of the institution.
“The closure of these departments is a reflection of the state’s long-standing policies aimed at erasing the identity of oppressed minorities in Pakistan,” the BSO representative added. “We categorically reject this decision and demand the immediate reinstatement of all language departments at the University of Balochistan. Failing that, BSO will continue its protest until the departments for Balochi, Brahui, and Pashto are fully restored.”
