GWADAR: An alliance of political parties and an association representing the business community of Balochistan’s Kech district have called upon the government to take steps for improving the law and order situation, remove restrictions on border trade, and end alleged harassment of traders.
The leaders of the All Parties Kech and the Kech Traders Association said at a press conference on Wednesday that they would consider giving a call for shutter-down strikes, rallies and sit-ins if the administration paid no heed to their grievances.
The speakers said the people of Kech were living in fear because of growing incidents of robbery, looting and kidnapping for ransom.
They said restrictions on trade and other economic activities had further worsened the situation by limiting sources of livelihood.
Businessmen, political parties’ alliance seek removal of curbs on border trade
The speakers expressed concern over lawlessness in Kech district, especially in Turbat, Buleda, Dasht and Hoshab towns, calling for indiscriminate action against those involved in theft, robbery, motorcycle snatching, and kidnapping for ransom.
They expressed reservations over the performance of police in Jouk, Nasirabad, Dasht, Buleda and Hoshab. The leaders called for deployment of police personnel in adequate numbers in these regions, urging the administration to ensure that senior officials were present in their areas.
Concern was raised over the abduction and killing of a woman, Mahgul, at Kalag Suhrani. The speakers said she was abducted from her home, murdered and her body dumped in an uninhabited place.
They called for a transparent and impartial investigation into the incident and for prosecution of those responsible regardless of their “affiliation and influence”.
Reopening of border crossings
The All Parties Kech urged the authorities to reopen all border crossings with Iran as thousands of families depended on border trade for their livelihood.
The party sought restoration of the Radeeg border checkpoint to its previous location and resumption of normal trade through a “transparent, simple and trader-friendly system”.
The speakers called for the removal of “unnecessary duties and restrictions”, seeking a “transparent mechanism” for revenue collection.
The authorities were urged to take action over complaints that vehicles transporting goods from Karachi were being stopped at Mochko and subjected to extortion.
Those who spoke at the press conference, among others, were All Parties Kech convener Younis Javed, deputy convener Fida Jan Buleidi, the Balochistan Jamaat-i-Islami leader Ghulam Yasin, and Kech Traders Association’s chief Nisar Adam Joski.
Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2026
