QUETTA: The leaders of Haq Do Tehreek (HDT) have warned candidates from various political parties contesting elections in Makran to withdraw their candidates, or the people will give them a shameful defeat against HDT on February 8.

Speaking at a large public meeting on Sunday at Shahada Jeweni Chowk in Gwadar, Maulana Hidayatur Rehman Baloch expressed that HDT is facing challenges from land mafias, drug barons, and trawler mafias who are fielding candidates against HDT nominees in the elections.

Maulana Hidayat is contesting the Provincial Assembly seat PB-24 (Gwadar), while Hussain Wadila is running for NA-259 (Turbat-Awaran-Lasbela). Large numbers of people from Turbat, Panjgur, Jeweni, Ormara, and other areas of Makran attended the public meeting.

HDT Chief Maulana Hidayat said that the mafia’s attempts to purchase votes failed. The people support HDT, which has been struggling for their due rights for the past 70 years against representatives of these mafias, he added.

He said that the people are disappointed with these representatives as they have done nothing to resolve issues, instead, they have looted funds in the name of development projects.

“We haven’t brought thousands of people in buses to show our power. They came to express solidarity with HDT, which never compromised on its struggle despite pressures,” Maulana Hidayat said, adding that today’s gathering is a referendum against parties and candidates, with the people of Gwadar giving their mandate to HDT before the election.

Hussain Wadila, Fida Akram, Imtanan Sajid, and Shahzed Babar also addressed the audience at the public meeting.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2024

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