Neither majority nor minorities secure in Balochistan: Das

JUI-F minority Senator from Balochistan Heman Das expressed his concern over the law and order in Balochistan, saying neither majority nor minorities felt secure in the country.
Talking to Pakistan Today, the JUI-F senator said Muslim majority as well as non-Muslim minorities both felt insecure due to the worsening law and order throughout the country, especially in Balochistan.
He said the majority of Hindu community in Pakistan was from either the business class or lower middle class, but both were scared of the prevalent situation.
“Incidents of kidnapping for ransom are on the rise in Balochistan and the government has failed to protect the life and property of inhabitants of the province,” he said.
He said the four-kilometre-long Saryab Road in Quetta had witnessed the killing of over 300 Hazara Shias despite having a number of security pickets along its length, which reflects the law and order in the province.
Das was of the view that recently, three youth from the Hindu community were abducted and were still missing.
He questioned what would be the condition of minorities in a place where majorities themselves were insecure.
To a question, he said the Baloch people had strong reservations against the paramilitary security forces, especially Frontier Constabulary (FC) and even the Supreme Court in its recent order had pointed towards the involvement of FC in 80 percent incidents of forced abductions and killings.
However, the involvement of foreign elements in the deteriorating law and order in the province could not be ruled out, he added.
Das said military operations and use of force in the province would not help improving the situation in the province and the issues should be resolved through dialogue.
Elaborating, he suggested the government hold free and fair polls to improve the conditions.
On the issue of minorities’ representation in parliament as well as provincial assemblies, the JUI-F senator demanded the government to raise the number of seats for minorities across the country so that they may effectively highlight their problems.
Commenting on the recent floods, Das expressed his dissatisfaction over the government’s relief efforts and advised it to ask the international community for assistance, as the government on its own was not able to meet the magnitude of destruction caused by floods.