Pakistan’s opposition demands end to military’s political role in Balochistan rally

Pakistan’s opposition parties staged a major rally in Pishin, a city in the southwestern province of Balochistan, on Thursday, calling for an end to military interference in politics, the release of political prisoners—including former prime minister Imran Khan—and free elections under an independent electoral body.

The protest was led by the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP), a multi-party opposition alliance advocating for civilian supremacy in Pakistan.

The rally featured key opposition figures, including Chairman Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) head Sahibzada Hamid Raza, Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, Balochistan National Party’s (BNP) Sajid Tareen, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Latif Khosa, and Salman Akram Raja.

TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Yousafzai told Nukta that the Pishin rally marked a “historic milestone” in the movement’s political strategy, aimed at uniting opposition forces against the establishment.

‘Unparalleled oppression’

Addressing the gathering, Latif Khosa condemned what he called the “fascism of the establishment”, asserting that the repression of the past three years had no precedent.

Khosa stressed that the rally was a show of solidarity with Balochistan, adding that Mahmood Khan Achakzai has been entrusted with a huge responsibility to rid Pakistan of “fascism”.

Khan’s struggle is for people, says Raja

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja delivered a fiery speech, stating that PTI and Imran Khan “stand firmly with Balochistan”.

"The people of Balochistan have been wronged for 78 years. We will not allow this to continue," Raja said, pledging that PTI would ensure Balochistan’s concerns were heard at the national level.

Raja declared that Pakistan’s prosperity was linked to Balochistan’s development. “Pakistan will only progress when Balochistan thrives, and true democracy will exist only when Balochistan’s elections are fair.”

He further said, “Imran Khan is in jail for your rights. The day he is free, Pakistan will be free.”

‘Hang generals who imposed martial law’

MWM leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas took direct aim at the military’s interference in politics, saying, “The generals who imposed martial law should be hanged.”

He accused military leaders of violating Pakistan’s Constitution and suppressing democratic forces. “The Constitution binds us together. It is the protector of our rights, culture, and aspirations,” Abbas asserted.

‘I am PTI’s deputy until Khan is free’

Mahmood Khan Achakzai declared himself the acting leader of PTI in Imran Khan’s absence. “No political force in Pakistan is stronger than PTI. Until Imran Khan is released, I will serve as his deputy,” he announced.

Achakzai also backed Balochistan National Party chief Akhtar Mengal’s demand for the release of Mahrang Baloch, chief organizer of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), and other detained activists, stating, “Even if Mengal was not part of our movement, we would still support the oppressed.”

Key demands

At the rally’s conclusion, TTAP passed several resolutions, outlining key demands:

• Fresh elections under a neutral Election Commission: TTAP rejected the current government, insisting that PTI had won the February 8, 2024, elections.

• End to military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan: The group condemned counterterrorism operations as a pretext for political suppression.

• Release of political prisoners: TTAP demanded the immediate release of Imran Khan, PTI workers, Mahrang Baloch, Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) leader Ali Wazir, and Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) members.

• Civilian supremacy and equal representation for smaller provinces: The party called for a system where Balochistan and other smaller provinces had full economic control over their resources.

• Afghanistan policy: TTAP condemned Pakistan’s forced deportation of Afghan refugees and urged a regional conference involving the United Nations and neighboring states to resolve the issue diplomatically.

“We are not against the army but against its political role,” the declaration stated. “We aim to end its interference in elections.”

What’s the significance of this rally?

The rally comes at a time when political tensions in Pakistan are high. The military has long been accused of manipulating elections and suppressing opposition leaders, especially following Imran Khan’s ouster in April 2022.

Balochistan, where the rally took place, is Pakistan’s largest but least developed province, rich in natural resources but plagued by insurgencies.

Deteriorating security in Balochistan

The security situation in Balochistan has worsened in recent months, with separatist militants frequently targeting police and military personnel.

On March 11, a Pakistani train was hijacked in a rare and alarming escalation of violence. The Jaffar Express, carrying 380 passengers, including 214 security personnel, departed Quetta at 9 a.m. but was derailed by an IED between Paneer and Mushkaaf stations at noon. Armed militants surrounded the train and initially released 86 local passengers before security forces intervened.

Officials reported that 33 terrorists were killed, while five security personnel were martyred. A total of 354 passengers survived, while 26, including a railway police officer and an employee, lost their lives. Fifty passengers sustained injuries.

Pakistan’s authorities have vowed to crack down on the growing insurgencies, blaming the violence partly on militants finding refuge in Afghanistan—a charge denied by the ruling Afghan Taliban.

Last year, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry reported a sharp rise in terrorist attacks since the Afghan Taliban took power in August 2021. It specifically noted a surge in Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Baloch nationalist insurgency in Balochistan, and ethno-nationalist violence in Sindh.

Six killed in Gwadar bus attack

On March 27, five passengers and a security official were killed in the Kalmat area of Balochistan’s Gwadar district.

"Terrorists have targeted passenger buses and security officials in multiple districts of Balochistan, killing at least five non-local passengers and a security official," a senior provincial police official told AFP .

The incident took place in the coastal town of Pasni in Gwadar district -- home to massive Chinese infrastructures projects attracting workers from all of Pakistan's provinces.

"Dozens of militants" have "stopped passenger buses and identified non-local travelers", the official added.

They carried out the overnight attacks in several districts after taking control of major highways and setting up posts to search vehicles, the official said.