n November 15, a school van carrying students was stopped in the Patel Bagh area of Quetta. Unidentified gunmen abducted 9-year-old Musawar Khan at gunpoint. The incident has sparked a massive protest led by the boy’s family. Till the filing of this report, the protest remained centred next to the Provincial Assembly chambers. Despite the outcry, the government has failed to recover the kidnapped child. This is just one of the events that have highlighted a worsening security situation in the province, where political activities remain overshadowed.

The protests for the recovery of Musawar Khan have brought the city to a standstill. While citizens demand immediate action, the government’s response has been sluggish.

Balochistan is grappling with a severe paralysis of political activity due to an escalating security crisis. Incidents like the abduction of a nine-year-old child in Quetta, underscore the gravity of the situation. The government’s inability to resolve such issues effectively indicates its broader failure to address the province’s challenges.

The government is accused of using security as a pretext to postpone elections in PB-44, a Quetta city constituency. Initially scheduled for November 21, the polling has been deferred by the Election Commission of Pakistan to December 12, citing security concerns. The provincial government’s request for additional security measures was provided as an official reason for the postponement. Many see this delay as a tactic to avoid elections that the ruling alliance’s candidate is expected to lose. This perception has further fuelled disenchantment among the electorate that is already alienated from the political process. Timely elections are a cornerstone of democracy. Such delays undermine trust in the system, especially in a region as politically volatile as Balochistan.

The threat of militant attacks continues to loom large over the province, further stifling political activity. On November 9, a suicide attack at the Railway Station in Quetta killed more than 25 people. Given the security situation, political leaders and parties are increasingly hesitant to organise rallies or public gatherings, fearing potential violence. This pervasive sense of fear has drastically limited the scope of political engagement, reducing it to behind-closed-doors meetings and low-key events.

The lack of a robust response from the government to counter these security threats has only exacerbated the issue. With political actors feeling insecure and vulnerable and democracy taking a backseat, the people of Balochistan are left without effective representation.

The government’s failure to create a secure and conducive environment for political activity is evident. While security issues dominate the discourse, little has been done to address the root causes of militancy and unrest. Efforts to promote political engagement have been minimal, and there is a noticeable absence of strategies aimed at improving trust between the government and the people.

The federal government and major political parties, including the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, have shown little concern for Balochistan’s challenges. Their focus remains centred on national-level politics, often neglecting the unique issues of the province. This lack of attention has left Balochistan without strong advocates at the federal level, perpetuating a cycle of marginalisation and underrepresentation. The indifference of larger parties dominant at the federal level to the plight of the people and the province of Balochistan has contributed significantly to a political paralysis leading to an utter inability of the system to address critical security and political challenges.

The consequences of this apathy are far-reaching. Balochistan’s socio-political fabric is unraveling, with trust in institutions eroding rapidly. Political stagnation has also hindered the province’s economic development, as investors and businesses remain wary of operating in such a volatile environment. The absence of meaningful political discourse and engagement further alienates the youth, who are increasingly disillusioned with the idea of participating in a system that appears rigged against them.

Solutions to these challenges are complex but necessary. The provincial government must prioritise creating a secure environment where political activities can resume without fear. This requires a multi-faceted approach, including strengthening accountable law enforcement, addressing the socio-economic grievances that fuel militancy, and fostering dialogue among stakeholders. At the federal level, major political parties must shift their focus to include Balochistan’s unique challenges in their agendas. Acknowledging the province’s significance and investing in its development are critical steps towards bridging the gap between the centre and the periphery.

Balochistan’s current state of political paralysis stems from multiple factors, including security concerns, government inaction and federal neglect. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach at both the provincial and federal levels. Only through concerted efforts can Balochistan hope to overcome its current challenges and move toward a more stable and democratic future.

The writer is a journalist based in Islamabad. He is the lead contributing writer for Nikkei Asia in Pakistan. He can be reached at adnan.aamir@live.com.