Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman, Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, has urged the establishment to change its policy towards Balochistan and ensure that the people of the region get their due share of rights.

Speaking at a seminar entitled “The burning problems of Balochistan and their solutions“ at the Karachi Press Club, Rehman stressed that the ruling elite and the establishment must recognize the legitimate demands of Balochistan’s citizens. He stated that if the people of Balochistan were given respect and their rights, they would prove to be even more patriotic.

“To solve the problems in Balochistan, we must engage with the true leadership of the region,” he said. He added that the current representatives in the Balochistan Assembly did not really represent the people of the province.

Rehman called for the activation of the Commission on Missing Persons and called for an end to the use of force and the return of the missing. He argued that if anyone is a criminal or a terrorist, they must be brought to justice according to the constitution and the law.

“There is nothing in any constitution that allows people to be forcibly disappeared,” Rehman noted, reaffirming his support for the Baloch leadership in Karachi.

Jamaat-e-Islami, he said, would raise its voice across the country for Balochistan’s rights, adding that the party was planning major rallies in Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar, including a historic gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore.

Rehman also addressed the economic and infrastructural challenges facing Balochistan. He urged the government to ensure provision of basic necessities and facilities to the people of Balochistan, which he noted could be a key player in Pakistan’s development.

He highlighted that Balochistan has a huge potential for solar energy production and should receive a greater share of the profits from its mineral resources.

Rehman proposed that 20% of the revenue from Balochistan’s mineral resources be allocated to the people of the province, which he believes would help accelerate both regional and national development. He further emphasized the need for a highway connecting Quetta to Karachi and pointed out that the lack of infrastructure was causing annual deaths.

“Every year 8,000 people lose their lives in road accidents between Quetta and Karachi due to the lack of proper roads,” he concluded.