By Staff Reporter
LAHORE: Ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif met with National Party (NP) chief Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch on Wednesday, pledging to play an “active role” in addressing escalating tensions in Balochistan, a province roiled by protests over recent arrests and allegations of state violence.
The talks, held at Sharif’s residence, come amid a protest that has entered its 12th day, led by nationalist parties over a crackdown on Baloch rights activists that has deepened long-standing grievances in Pakistan’s largest but most marginalized region.
Dr. Baloch, a former chief minister of Balochistan, led a delegation of NP leaders, including Senator Jan Muhammad Buledi, lawmaker Pullain Baloch, and provincial figures Sardar Kamal Khan Bangulzai and Aslam Baloch.
The group briefed Sharif—a three-time former prime minister—on what they described as a surge in arrests and the deadly police response to ongoing demonstrations, including the dismantling of a protest camp in Quetta the previous weekend.
Speaking to journalists afterward, Dr. Baloch emphasized the urgency of political engagement. “I have requested Nawaz Sharif to play his political role for Balochistan, and he assured me of doing so,” he said, noting Sharif’s willingness to visit the province soon.
“Balochistan’s issues are political in nature and require political solutions,” he added, condemning the “killing of innocent people” and invoking Sharif’s prior efforts during his 2013–2017 premiership as a template for renewed diplomacy.
“We told Nawaz that his role is crucial in resolving the situation in Balochistan.”
PML-N leader Khawaja Saad Rafique, who attended the meeting, confirmed Sharif’s openness to mediation. “Dr. Baloch urged Nawaz to step forward politically, and Nawaz Sharif gave a positive response,” he said.
The dialogue aligns with calls from within Sharif’s own party; Defense Minister Khawaja Asif recently urged him to leverage his influence, citing his “readiness to engage” after recuperating from health issues and observing Eid.
The meeting follows days of unrest triggered by the arrests of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders, including Dr. Mahrang Baloch, during a raid on their sit-in at Quetta’s Sariab Road.
The group claims three protesters died in the police action, though authorities have charged 150 individuals, including BYC organizers, with terrorism, incitement to rebellion, and murder—a move critics allege aims to criminalize dissent.
Balochistan’s turmoil is rooted in decades of neglect, with locals accusing the central government of exploiting the region’s resources while denying it economic and political autonomy.
The province has endured a low-level insurgency and heavy-handed military operations, fueling cycles of distrust.
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