QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly unanimously passed a joint resolution on Monday, expressing serious concern over the harassment of people from Balochistan—particularly traders and labourers—living and working in Karachi and other parts of Sindh.
Lawmakers from both the government and opposition benches called for immediate engagement with the Sindh government to ensure the protection of all Balochistan residents working in the province. The Balochistan Assembly met on Monday with Speaker Captain (retd) Abdul Khaliq Achakzai in the chair. The session began an hour later than scheduled.
During the proceedings, JUI-F lawmaker Asghar Tareen presented a resolution highlighting the concerns of Pashtun traders from Pishin, Chaman, Khanozai, Zhob, Muslim Bagh, Loralai, and Quetta, who frequently travel to Karachi and other parts of Sindh for business, primarily in the hospitality sector.
Tareen stated that for the past month, Sindh Police and land mafia groups in Karachi had been “unnecessarily harassing” these businessmen to force them to shut down their establishments and return to Balochistan. He argued these actions were undermining interprovincial harmony and national unity, urging the provincial government to immediately engage the Sindh government to stop these injustices. Tareen also stressed that despite the PPP governing both provinces, Pashtun businessmen were specifically being arrested, harassed, and subjected to raids, with many detained without FIRs.
In response, Senior Provincial Minister and PPP Parliamentary Leader Mir Sadiq Umrani stated that while the PPP has always provided employment without discrimination, the recent actions were based on federal directives targeting illegal businesses and undocumented migrants. He assured the House the Sindh government would be approached and asked Tareen to withdraw his resolution. Echoing this, Provincial Agriculture Minister Mir Ali Hassan Zehri assured the House of his readiness to discuss the matter with President Asif Ali Zardari and the Sindh government.
ANP Parliamentary Leader Engineer Zmarak Khan Achakzai called for a joint committee to engage Sindh authorities. ANP’s Malik Naeem Bazai demanded immediate action. MPA Maulvi Noorullah urged PPP lawmakers to support the initiative.
Jamaat-e-Islami MPA Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch demanded that the resolution be expanded to include all people of Balochistan—not only Pashtuns—since citizens from various districts visited Karachi for trade, labour, and medical treatment, where they too faced humiliation and mistreatment. National Party MPA Khair Jan Baloch called the attitude of the Karachi police and administration “regrettable.”
BAP’s Prince Agha Umar Ahmedzai requested that the Speaker turn the resolution into a joint resolution of the entire House and form a committee under his supervision. Parliamentary Secretary Barkat Ali Rind supported the proposal. PML-N’s Zarak Khan Mandokhail also backed the resolution. JUI-F’s Syed Zafar Agha urged the Speaker to contact his counterpart in the Sindh Assembly and establish a committee.
Responding to the debate, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti endorsed the formation of a committee led by senior political figures—including Mir Sadiq Umrani and Mir Ali Hassan Zehri—to hold talks with the Sindh government. Later, the Speaker approved the resolution as a joint resolution of the entire House, replacing the words “Pashtun community” with “people of Balochistan.” The Assembly unanimously passed the resolution.
