ISLAMABAD: Opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai has emphasized the need for reassurances to the Baloch people, stating that they must be assured that they have a rightful share in the province’s resources.
He added that Pakistan would become a “beautiful bouquet” if Baloch people were treated with equity and inclusion.
Speaking in the National Assembly on the current situation in Balochistan, Achakzai expressed his disappointment with the lack of communication, noting, “Mr. Speaker, I couldn’t come to you, and you didn’t come to us either. These distances between us should be bridged.”
Referring to the recent tragic events in Balochistan, Achakzai criticized the media’s lack of coverage, stating, “A huge tragedy occurred in Balochistan, with valuable lives lost, yet no TV station stopped playing music.”
He also raised questions about the origins of terrorism in the region, asking whether Pakistan’s collaboration with the United States and its training of the Taliban had contributed to the current security situation. “Did General Zia-ul-Haq not call the fighters in Afghanistan freedom fighters? Didn’t the Kalashnikov culture emerge after the Afghan Jihad?” Achakzai said. He further accused the state of training militants in military camps, leading to the ongoing violence.
The opposition leader stated that in Balochistan, even organizing a public gathering against the will of a tribal leader or “sardar” was nearly impossible, suggesting that tribal elites still held significant influence over the region’s affairs. He emphasized the disparity in resource distribution, citing the example of natural gas extraction in the Sui area of Balochistan.
“Gas is extracted from Sui and reaches the entire country, yet women in Balochistan still cook with firewood,” he said. He added that such conditions were breeding grounds for resentment, even though he clarified that he did not condone terrorism. “What is a Baloch to do in these conditions?” he asked.
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