Uthal: Addressing a press conference at SMC Farm in Uthal, central General Secretary of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Abdul Ghafoor Haidri, said that the law and order situation in Balochistan has remained unstable since 1952. He stated that the conflict has at times intensified and at other times subsided, but a lasting solution has yet to be achieved.
He said that after the arrest of Nawab Nauroz Khan, his associates collectively contested elections, including nationalist leaders such as Sardar Ataullah Mengal. During that period, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam was a major political force, and in 1973 all political parties jointly gave the country a consensus constitution. However, Pakistan was later deprived of the constitution for a long time.
Abdul Ghafoor Haidri said that the 1973 Constitution was the result of the struggle of senior leaders of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam. In 1974, elected governments were formed in Balochistan under Sardar Ataullah Mengal and in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but during General Zia-ul-Haq’s era, despite announcements of amnesty, the situation did not improve and instability continued to worsen.
Criticizing the current situation, he said the present government does not possess full authority and is operating under directions from elsewhere. He added that real power lies with those who control force, and if they change their approach, Balochistan’s issues could be resolved. However, the continued reliance on force has only deepened unrest.
He warned that if the same policies continue, the problems of Balochistan will not be resolved even in the next 100 years, as they have remained unresolved for the past 75 years. The youth being killed on both sides, whether from the security forces or the police, are all children of the same land, he said.
Responding to a question, he warned that constitutional amendments driven by personal interests could darken the country’s future. Amendments to the constitution should only be made in the national interest. He said that if given the opportunity, past wrongful amendments would be repealed.
He concluded by saying that no government can resolve public issues through such a style of governance.
On the occasion, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam’s central Vice Ameer Maulana Ghulam Qadir Qasmi, former Balochistan Assembly member Makhi Sham Lal Lasi, district General Secretary Maulana Shah Muhammad Siddiqui, Tehsil Sonmiani Winder Ameer Mufti Aminullah Banori, General Councilor Jeeram Das Ram Lasi, Ramesh Kumar Lasi, and other notable figures were also present.
