• Ministers and lawmakers say they receive extortion threats, face travel restrictions
• Standing committee reviews Balochistan Control of Narcotics Bill 2026

QUETTA: Members from both the treasury and opposition benches in the Balochistan Assembly on Thursday expressed serious concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in the province, saying that even provincial ministers were unable to travel safely to their constituencies and were receiving extortion threats.

Soon after the assembly session began, presided over by Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party and senior provincial minister for irrigation Mir Sadiq Umrani took the floor and said: “If we cannot provide protection to the people, then there is no need to sit in this House.”

He said the province was facing a civil war-like situation, adding that there was effectively a war between the government and terrorists.

“Attacks on police stations, snatching of weapons, and extortion threats are occurring every day, even targeting assembly members,” Mr Umrani said. “I am a minister and an MPA, yet my house in Dera Murad Jamali has been attacked five times.”

He said highways remained closed and people could not travel safely to their areas by road. Stressing the need for peace in the province, he urged the House to suggest measures for restoring law and order and improving public security.

Mr Umrani also said that whenever the government transfers an officer, the officer approaches the court and obtains a stay order. He suggested legislation should be introduced to address the issue.

He added that despite approaching the chief minister, home minister, and Inspector General of Police, the security situation had not improved. Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai remarked that if interference in administrative matters was taking place, the government should amend the relevant laws. He added that criticism over law and order amounted to a charge sheet against the government.

Home Minister Zia Langove admitted that the law and order situation was unsatisfactory. He said assembly members had been provided six security guards each, while ministers had been assigned eight guards, which he termed sufficient.

He urged political parties to openly condemn terrorists and their organisations.

Anti-narcotics bill

Meanwhile, the Provincial Assembly’s Standing Committee on Excise and Anti-Narcotics held a meeting. The session focused on detailed deliberations over the Balochistan Control of Narcotics Bill 2026, aimed at strengthening provincial legislation against drug-related crimes.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2026