“Books, Not Guns”: JI Chief Hafiz Naeem Links Balochistan Unrest to Economic Despair

GWADAR — Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman delivered a strong message on Sunday, asserting that the persistent unrest in Balochistan is a direct consequence of systemic state neglect rather than a purely security-related issue. Speaking at a Bano Qabil entry test ceremony in Gwadar, Rehman argued that the “barrel of a gun” is not a substitute for education, employment, and constitutional guarantees for the province’s youth.

• The Occasion: Bano Qabil entry test for free IT courses, organized by Alkhidmat Foundation.
• Core Argument: Unemployment and lack of education are the primary drivers of youth frustration.
• Key Statistics: * 4 Million youth remain unemployed in Balochistan.
  • 50% of school-age children in the province are out of school.
  • Only 150,000 official jobs exist against a massive demand.
• Political Demand: Immediate cessation of military-centric strategies in favor of economic rights.

The Cost of Neglect: 4 Million Unemployed and Rising Anger

Hafiz Naeem highlighted a staggering disparity in Balochistan’s economic landscape. While the province is resource-rich, nearly four million young people are currently without work, creating a vacuum that breeds resentment against the state.

“When unemployment prevails and the Baloch people are denied their rights, anger against the state is a natural outcome,” he noted. He criticized the current governance model for relying on force to suppress a crisis that he believes is fundamentally economic and psychological.

“Missing Persons” and Constitutional Accountability

The JI chief did not shy away from the sensitive issue of enforced disappearances, linking the agony of missing loved ones to the breakdown of law and order. He questioned how the public could be expected to abide by the law when the state fails to provide legal closure or due process for its citizens.

Rehman emphasized that:

1. Constitutional Rights must be the first line of defense against militancy.
2. Resources extracted from the province should primarily benefit the local population.
3. Missing Persons must be produced in courts if they have committed crimes, rather than being kept in legal limbo.

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Bano Qabil: A “Revolutionary” Step for Gwadar

Despite the bleak political outlook, the JI Emir presented the Bano Qabil program as a practical solution to empower Baloch youth. Thousands of boys and girls in Gwadar appeared for the IT course entry tests, which Rehman described as a “revolutionary initiative” to bridge the digital divide.

He argued that by providing modern skills, organizations like Alkhidmat are doing the state’s job of turning “despair into potential.” He called for a nationwide struggle to change what he termed a “rotten system” controlled by an imposed elite.

Jamaat-i-Islami has announced its intention to continue its “Haq Do Balochistan” (Give Rights to Balochistan) movement with several upcoming actions:

• Grand Jirga: A planned gathering to unify regional leadership on a common Charter of Rights.
• Skill Centers: Plans to expand Bano Qabil centers across all districts of Balochistan by late 2026.
• Legislative Pressure: JI lawmakers intend to raise the issue of border trade restrictions in the next parliamentary session.

This video provides an overview of how the Bano Qabil initiative aims to address the very unemployment and skill gaps Hafiz Naeem highlighted in his Gwadar speech.