Editorial: Remove all unauthorized check posts in Balochistan

The Federal Government had removed all the major check posts, including at Uthal, Shella Bagh, Lehri, Jaffarabad, Sheikh Wasil and some other places in Balochistan. Orders of the Prime Minister had been welcomed by all. Winding up the Coast Guards Check Post is the biggest decision as the concerned officials resisted this demand and the Mushahid Hussain Syed Committee could not remove that check posts. The Coast Guards officials even snubbed the then Interior Minister, Chaudhary Shujat Hussain, and refused to obey his orders in 1990s. Some security officials claimed that it was the most strategic check post at Uthal and it would be retained. They retained it till Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani order its winding up in the Balochistan Package. Interestingly, the performance of people at the Uthal Check post was dismal while complaints of harassment of people, including families, were common since it was established some four decades ago. Hardly, it had recovered significant quantity of arms and ammunition, narcotics or other contraband goods.

However, the people from Chagai claimed that the Frontier Corps and other security agencies had established their unauthorized check posts between Dalbandin and Nokkundi. They are stopping the people and verifying the identity of the people in the vehicle in their usual way without having official orders. Who had ordered to establish new check posts in Chagai District, the people asked? The Prime Minister should take serious notice to the establishment of new check posts while removing the old and notorious ones on the demand of the people of Balochistan.