QUETTA: Haq Do Teh­reek (HDT) leader and MPA Maulana Hidayatur Rehman has strongly condemned the use of force on the convoy of Baloch Yak­jehti Committee supporters near Mastung and ann­o­unced that he is now joining opposition benches in the Balochistan Assem­bly.

“I will not support the coalition government anymore,” the HDT leader said.

“I don’t understand why the government created hurdles and disallowed a peaceful gathering in Gwadar while the Constitution allows everyone to hold such peaceful public meetings.”

Mr Rehman criticised the provincial government for not fulfilling its responsibilities which led to violent incidents.

He also condemned the closure of mobile phone and internet services and roads and said it was not morally or constitutionally justified.

He said there are reports of firing in Gwadar, but it is difficult to verify these reports now due to the suspension of internet and mobile phone services in the area.

The MPA said problems of the people should be resolved through dialogue and not by resorting to use of force and violence against mothers and sisters of the province.

He said he did not want to see Balochistan burning and that was the reason he had decided to sit on the opposition ben­ches in the provincial ass­embly.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2024

Editorial

Updated 01 Aug, 2026

Maritime alliance

AS the US-Iran war drags on, new battle lines are being drawn. The pro-US Gulf Arab monarchies and Iran have enjoyed...
01 Aug, 2026

Local governance

INTERIOR Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s speech at a business summit on Thursday has stirred a hornet’s nest. His...
01 Aug, 2026

Murders in Balochistan

GOOD news is scarce in Balochistan. Seven labourers were abducted and gunned down in Turbat city recently. Four...
31 Jul, 2026

Expanding conflict

WITH neither of the belligerents willing to back down, and the theatre of conflict expanding geographically, the...
31 Jul, 2026

Spoils and spats

A FIGHT over assembly seats in Azad Jammu and Kashmir has laid bare what seem to be some deep resentments between ...
31 Jul, 2026

Unfair tax system

THE disclosure that the FBR collected nearly Rs1.9tr in sales and income taxes through electricity bills over the...