QUETTA – Provincial ministers in Balochistan Assembly on Tuesday expressed their concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the province, particularly the growing incidents of abductions for ransom, including that of Hindus.
They suggested equipping Levies Force and police force by giving them a free hand to bust kidnapping gangs. Balochistan Inspector General of Police Malik Mohammad Iqbal, Chief Secretary Ahmed Bakhsh Lehri and Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani were also present in the official galleries during the assembly’s two-hour debate on law and order.
The lawmakers expressed serious concern over the rising incidents of kidnapping for ransom across the province. Initiating the debate, Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhel of the PML-Q said the whole region was facing law and order problem due to the war in Afghanistan. He said that investors were reluctant to invest in Balochistan and due to incidents of target killings, teachers were also not ready to come teach in the province.
Referring to abductions for ransom, the PML-Q leader said it had become a cancer for our society, adding that said the Levies Force and police should be properly equipped and should be given a free hand to perform their duties without fear. Provincial Minister Jay Parkash Narain strongly protested over the kidnappings of Hindus, saying six people, including a Hindu spiritual leader, were kidnapped and the administration had so far failed to trace their whereabouts.
He said the community also took up the issue with the president during his visit to Quetta who then directed the security forces to provide security to minorities. Narain asked the administration to expedite their efforts and the tribal chief to use their influence for recovering abducted members of the Hindu community. Provincial Food Minister Asfanyar Kakar also condemned the rising kidnappings.
