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Opposition Leaders' Criticism of the Political and Security Setup in Balochistan

Thursday, July 9, 2026
5 min read
Opposition Leaders' Criticism of the Political and Security Setup in Balochistan

Opposition leaders really went off on the political and security setup at that All Parties Conference. It happened in Balochistan, led by the PTI. They basically declared that Parliament, the courts, all those mainstream parties they are completely useless when it comes to fixing what’s happening in the province.

The whole conference took place at KP House in Islamabad. But this wasn't just some standard meeting. People gathered there because they were talking about the security situation spiraling out of control in Balochistan. Disappearances, resource sharing, and those mining policies caused a massive uproar. Everyone pushed for actual talk instead of just brute force. They demanded that people go missing get found.

Akhtar Jan Mengal, the head of the BNP-M, brought the heaviest criticism. He was pretty blunt. He said he’s totally disillusioned with every single institution in Pakistan. It felt like everything had broken down.

Mengal argued that you can’t fix this through whatever political or judicial channels we have now. In his view, they were just completely helpless when facing the Balochistan problem. Look at PTI itself. They saw their parliamentary strength shrink. Their provincial power got undercut. Reserved seats were taken away. And they couldn't even get relief for Imran Khan from the courts. It showed you how little these political setups can actually influence huge national issues.

He suggested something drastic. An international mechanism. Mengal proposed a United Nations fact-finding commission. That body needs to look into Balochistan independently. They should figure out who is responsible the parties, the state, the establishment, even the security forces if they are guilty. Accountability has to be established.

Then there was the security side of things. Mengal questioned how this all fits in with Pakistan’s policies in the province. Billions were spent yearly on security for Balochistan. Yet ordinary people still lived in fear. He pointed out that while government buildings and cantonments stayed protected, vast areas of Quetta and the surrounding regions felt unsafe, even during the day.

He used this kind of analogy, talking about a shared house. The Baloch people felt totally left out of Pakistan’s political arrangement. They were told they were equal stakeholders, but it just wasn't true. He called for a whole new social contract. Something that would actually make Baloch citizens feel secure and genuinely equal in the federation.

Mahmood Khan Achakzai, from the PKMAP side, echoed these feelings too. He brought up history here. Pashtuns and Baloch have always fought to keep their internal autonomy intact. That principle doesn't change easily. He referenced figures like Bayazid Roshan, Khushal Khan Khattak, and the Khudai Khidmatgar movement. These demands for self-rule aren’t new; they are deeply rooted in history.

Achakzai also made a sharp pivot to other groups. He alleged that Pashtuns across Pakistan get profiled constantly. It’s all about language and appearance. Beards and turbans have become flags for suspicion. People who speak Pashto often get questioned, sometimes treated like foreigners because the language links them back to Afghanistan.

He spoke about the treatment of laborers in places like Sukkur and Hyderabad. He described it as deeply troubling. Systemic injustice just breeds hatred. That’s what he argued. If you keep discriminating and using coercive policies, it only deepens alienation and instability. It doesn't solve anything.

Ultimately, the opposition leaders wrapped up by demanding a shift. They want Pakistan to stop focusing solely on security in Balochistan. Instead of that approach, they insist on political dialogue. Address those disappearances immediately. Make sure resources are distributed fairly. And create conditions for some real, lasting political settlement.

Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board

Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.

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