Balochistan: Educational Institutions Under Militarisation

By Faisal Baloch

Balochistan, which has already been plunged into a deep abyss of oppression, coercion, and exploitation, is now witnessing its educational institutions fall victim to yet another grave conspiracy.

Following the Bolan Medical College and the University of Balochistan, the University of Lasbela is now being systematically taken over by military forces under a well-coordinated plan. This is no mere coincidence; it is a sinister plot to deprive the oppressed people of Balochistan of the light of knowledge.

Balochistan’s educational institutions, once beacons of hope, are now plagued by fear, oppression, and military control. Here, instead of knowledge, the rule of guns prevails; instead of peace, there is fear and terror; and instead of progress, backwardness is being imposed. Students, who once turned to these institutions to pursue their dreams, are now being forced to abandon their education due to fear and pressure. This not only darkens the future of students but also pushes Balochistan further into the darkness of illiteracy and backwardness.

What a tragedy it is that Balochistan, already deprived of its land, resources, and identity, is now being denied even the fundamental right to education. This is not an accidental occurrence but a deliberate state policy that sends a clear message: the people of Balochistan have no right to education. By transforming their institutions into military camps, it is evident that in their view Baloch are only meant to live lives of subjugation and oppression.

Fear now casts a shadow over Balochistan’s educational institutions. Students are struggling to study under the watchful eyes of uniformed men carrying guns, but the mental stress and pressure have entirely undermined their confidence and focus. Rather than pursuing knowledge, they are reduced to helpless, despairing figures.

This conspiracy extends beyond educational institutions—it is an attack on the entire future of Balochistan. Anti-education forces are bent on creating a generation that is deprived of education, denied their rights, and afraid to protest. This is a nefarious plot to drag Balochistan into a permanent state of illiteracy, backwardness, and slavery.

If the students of Balochistan are being denied their rights today, it is not only an unforgivable crime but also a slap in the face of Pakistan’s entire educational and social system. This stain will never be forgiven by future generations.

The people of Balochistan must break their silence. Now is the time for them to stand up for their rights, their land, and the future of their children. If we do not raise our voices against this injustice today, tomorrow we will be left with nothing but regret and mourning. This struggle is a matter of life and death, not only for Balochistan’s students but for the entire region.

We must ask ourselves: How long will the youth of Balochistan continue to yearn for their educational rights? How long will their dreams be buried under the shadow of guns? How long will the state remain an indifferent spectator to their suffering? The time has come to end this cycle of oppression and give Balochistan the rights it has been waiting for centuries: education, life, and peace, which are fundamental human rights.