Residents of Balochistan’s Kech district are facing growing anxiety amid a sharp rise in kidnapping-for-ransom incidents, crime, and overall lawlessness, prompting political parties, traders, and civil society groups to intensify protests and announce further demonstrations and shutdowns.
Amid worsening security conditions, All Parties Kech, the traders’ association, political parties, and civil society organizations announced and held a protest rally and shutter-down strike on January 5. As part of preparations, leaders of All Parties Kech, the traders’ association, and other political and social organizations carried out an extensive pamphleting campaign across Turbat city. Delegations visited markets, streets, and commercial centers, meeting shopkeepers and residents to brief them on the deteriorating law and order situation and to appeal for full participation in the January 5 protest rally.
The organizers said that the persistent incidents of kidnapping for ransom, insecurity, and crime had created an acute sense of fear among the public, while law enforcement agencies appeared unable to bring the situation under control. They emphasized that the purpose of the protest rally was to convey public grievances to the authorities in a peaceful and organized manner. According to the announcement, the joint protest rally was held on Monday, January 5, at 12:30 pm, alongside an appeal for a citywide shutter-down strike.
Turbat civil society groups also declared full support for the January 5 protest, warning that Balochistan was once again being pushed toward ransom kidnapping, killings, and instability. A civil society spokesperson stated that protecting the lives and property of citizens was the fundamental responsibility of the state and that the public could not be left at the mercy of armed groups.
Meanwhile, Haq Do Tehreek Balochistan Kech also announced complete support for the protest, strongly condemning kidnapping for ransom, alleged extrajudicial abduction-style arrests, and enforced disappearances. In a statement, the movement said such practices were unacceptable in any civilized society and confirmed that it would participate fully in the January 5 protest.
The Balochistan National Party (BNP) Kech district chapter also announced unconditional support for the public protest, stating that the root causes of lawlessness in Kech and across Balochistan included enforced disappearances, kidnapping for ransom, killings, theft, and robberies. The party spokesperson warned that policies based on coercion and fear were further worsening the situation and urged the state to adopt people-friendly and serious corrective measures.
Political and social organizations collectively appealed to the public to unite against insecurity, kidnapping for ransom, and lawlessness by actively participating in the January 5 protest rally and shutter-down strike.
Following the announcements, a large number of people gathered in Turbat city on January 5 to protest against the rising crime rates and lawlessness in kech. The protest, organized by All Parties Kech, the traders’ association, doctors’ associations, and civil society organizations, was attended by hundreds of men and women.
The protest rally began from Apsar Bazaar, passed through various parts of the city, and proceeded via the Press Club before reaching Shaheed Fida Chowk, where it turned into a protest gathering.
Addressing the gathering, former Balochistan chief minister and National Party leader Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch said that the law and order situation in Kech had become extremely alarming. He said it was the responsibility of state institutions to ensure the safe recovery of abducted youths Haseeb Haji Yaseen and Shah Nawaz Gul Jan. Dr. Malik warned that renewed efforts were underway to push Kech back into instability, but asserted that the people of Kech would defeat such conspiracies. He urged the district administration to fulfil its responsibilities and ensure the protection of citizens.
Dr. Malik further stated that for the past month, affected families, along with political leaders, had approached all relevant institutions, but each authority continued to shift responsibility onto another. He stressed that safeguarding the lives and property of the people was the fundamental duty of the state and its institutions.
All Parties Kech convener Nawab Khan Shambizai described the recent kidnapping-for-ransom incidents as deeply disturbing. He warned that if the abducted youths, Haseeb Yaseen and Shah Nawaz Gul Jan, were not recovered soon, a shutter-down strike would be observed on January 7.
Kech Bar Association President Advocate Syed Majeed Shah condemned the kidnapping incidents and said that the bar association boycotted court proceedings as a protest. He added that lawyers were standing in complete solidarity with the affected families.
Former caretaker minister and Shah Karwan leader Ghafoor Ahmed Bizenjo said that the recent incidents of insecurity had caused severe public anxiety and that the state must fulfil its responsibility of ensuring citizens’ safety.
Former senator Ismail Buledi said that people across Kech district and the wider Makran region were living under acute insecurity. He stated that businesses had shut down, sources of livelihood were shrinking, and now people were being deprived of their basic right to live. He demanded immediate protection for traders and citizens and called for an end to kidnapping for ransom.
Other speakers at the protest included BNP Awami central vice president Zareef Zadag, BNP leader Dr. Ghafoor Baloch, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Kech leader Maulana Abdul Hafeez Mengal, Ameer of Markazi Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith Kech Maulana Saeed Ahmed Tigrani, and BSO Pajjar chairman Advocate Boheer Saleh, among others.
The protest was attended by leaders of political parties, civil society representatives, members of tahe paramedical association, lawyers from the Kech Bar Association, Balochistan Bar Council, and Makran Bar Council, people from various walks of life, families of abducted persons, and thousands of men and women, highlighting the growing public anger over worsening security conditions in the district.