QUETTA: Jamaat-i-Islami (JI)chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has demanded reopening of border crossings with Afghanistan, legalisation of trade with Iran, and completion of the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project, saying these measures are essential for economic stability and public relief.

Speaking at a public meeting in Zhob under the slogan “Badal Do Nizam” (Change the System), Rehman announced that JI would launch a nationwide strike after Eidul Azha against unjust increases in petrol and electricity prices and appealed to the people and business community of Balochistan to fully support the strike.

He said the JI offered a solution to the problems being faced by Bal­ochistan and the rest of the country, urging people to support the party’s struggle for change of the system and an end to the rule of the “imposed elite class”.

Rehman proposed formation of a joint committee comprising tribesmen and traders from both sides of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border to facilitate the reopening of border crossings in Chaman and other areas.

He also called for the establishment of special border trade zones and suggested assigning tribes responsibility for maintaining peace and securing trade routes.

Criticising current border policies, he said the border was selectively opened at night for the benefit of a few individuals while the livelihoods of thousands remained affected. He stressed that trade with Iran, particularly petroleum products, should be regularised through legal channels.

Speaking on the occasion, JI Balochistan chief and MPA Maulana Hidayatur Rehman Baloch said province’s resources should be spent on the welfare of its people. He said the Jamaat could address issues such as missing persons, border closures, unemployment, insecurity, and corruption if given public support.

He strongly condemned the recent bomb blast in Quetta and questioned the failure of authorities to ensure public safety despite large allocations of funds for security institutions. He also expressed concern over reports of coal trucks being set on fire in Harnai and Loralai, calling on the Balochistan government to compensate affected traders and ensure the safety of commercial activities.

Published in Dawn, May 25th, 2026