Pakistan: Opposition alliance to hold multi-party conference on deteriorating security in Balochistan

Expressing deep concern over the deteriorating situation in Balochistan, the opposition alliance – Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Aayeen Pakistan (TTAP) on Wednesday called for a multi-party conference (MPC) ahead of the long-awaited public meeting on September 8, reports Dawn.

TTAP called on the NA speaker to convene a special session to discuss the issue and vowed to go ahead with the September 8 protest no matter what

he/she also said that details of the apex committee meeting of the National Action Plan, held recently in Balochistan, should be shared with the opposition, Dawn reported.

Pakistan: Opposition alliance to hold multi-party conference on deteriorating situation in Balochistan, demand convening of parliamentary session, meeting held at Sardar Latif Khosa’s residence. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Umar Ayub Khan and Zain Qureshi as well as BNP-Mengal leader Sajid Tareen attended the meeting.

The opposition alliance also formed a committee led by Sahibzada Hamid Raza to organise a multi-party conference (MPC).

PTI leader Asad Qaiser said, “MPC is necessary in Balochistan to address the concerns of our Baloch brothers.” he/she also said that although he/she raised the issue of Balochistan in Parliament, the government showed no interest. he/she said this lack of response contributed to BNP-M chief Akhtar Mengal’s decision to resign from the assembly.

Speaking to Dawn, Qaiser said, “We will hold a meeting with the National Assembly speaker and try to convince him/her to discuss the situation in the province.” [MPC] There should be a meeting on Balochistan so that the concerns of our Baloch brothers can be addressed.

The former chairman also said that it has been decided that TTAP will hold public meetings across the country and will also fix a date for a massive nationwide protest.

he/she said, “Pakistan’s Parliament has become a mere rubber stamp. Senior lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa strongly criticized the wrong priorities of the Pakistan government. ‘People are troubled by inflation and price rise, but the government is more interested in amending the Constitution, which is increasing anxiety among the people.’

PTI spokesperson Rauf Hassan announced that an additional public meeting is scheduled to be held in Lahore on September 22, which is expected to be attended by supporters of 12 opposition parties, reports Dawn.

As per Dawn’s report, August 2024 saw a sharp rise in terrorist activities in Pakistan, with 59 attacks taking place across the country, compared to 38 in July. This rise in violence resulted in the death of 84 people and injuries to 166 others, as recorded by the Islamabad-based think tank, Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), reports Dawn News.

Most of these attacks took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where 29 and 28 incidents took place respectively. Balochistan alone witnessed 28 terrorist incidents in which 57 people were killed and 84 injured.

These attacks were primarily carried out by the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which launched a coordinated attack on August 26, targeting security forces, non-Baloch civilians and national infrastructure in more than seven districts. This campaign of violence by the BLA resulted in massive casualties and escalated tensions within the province.