The Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments in Pakistan have ordered the early closure of wedding halls, markets, and restaurants as part of energy conservation measures.

Murree has recorded its highest rainfall as heavy rains persist across Punjab, Pakistan. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued early warnings for Karachi, anticipating a westerly wave to enter Balochistan from April 5.

Pakistan is at a strategic crossroads, navigating complex alliances and regional conflicts, with past foreign war involvements leading to domestic instability. A new defense pact with Saudi Arabia and escalating tensions are further complicating its position.

Schools across Balochistan, Pakistan, are set to resume classes from April 1, adopting a five-day working week amidst an ongoing fuel crisis, following an earlier announcement on March 9.

Gas supply has been disrupted in Balochistan after terrorists planted and detonated explosives beneath a pipeline near the western bypass in Harnai.

Heavy torrential rains have led to widespread flooding across Balochistan, disrupting daily life and prompting authorities to impose a picnic ban in Mastung.

Pashtun Pakistanis in Balochistan have celebrated Eid by participating in traditional games, showcasing cultural festivities during the holiday.

Pakistan's Met Department has warned of heavy rain and hailstorms across 27 districts in Balochistan from March 24–29, with PDMA and rescue authorities on alert for a high risk of flash floods.

Mobile and internet services have been suspended in Balochistan on Pakistan Day due to security concerns, coinciding with a PkMAP rally in Pishin attended by K-P CM and PTI leaders.

QUETTA: Balochistan Inspector General of Police Muhammad Tahir has congratulated provincial police personnel for arresting 497 proclaimed offenders over the 40-day special campaign launched against…

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti on Wednesday said security agencies arrested a “would-be” female suicide bomber in Khuzdar, with the use of “human intelligence”. Addressing a press conference in Quetta, alongside the alleged “would-be” suicide bomber, the chief minister said that terrorist groups in Balochistan were “exploiting” Baloch women. The young woman — identified as Laiba — narrating her ordeal, said she was “brain-washed” into becoming a suicide bomber by a Tehreek-i-Taliba...

The Centre and Balochistan have reached an agreement to deploy two wings of the Federal Constabulary, comprising approximately 3000 personnel, to the province to ensure lasting peace and improve law and order.

GWADAR: Five labourers from Sindh were injured in a grenade attack on a house in the coastal town of Pasni late Tuesday night, police said. Unknown people riding motorbikes hurled a grenade at a residential quarter in Ward No. 9, resulting in an explosion in the house’s courtyard, according to police reports. As a result, five people said to be from Sindh were injured while a portion of the quarter was damaged. Police rushed to the site soon after the blast and shifted the injured to the dist...

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has announced plans to hold jirgas (traditional assemblies) in major cities to address the ongoing crisis in Balochistan, Pakistan.

Security forces in Pakistan killed 15 terrorists during two intelligence-based operations in the Harnai and Basima districts of Balochistan.

Eight people, including a college lecturer, were killed in separate incidents involving shootings and a road crash in Balochistan.

.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has again suspended the victory notification of PPP’s Ali Hassan Zehri for the Balochistan Assembly PB-21 Hub constituency from the Feb 8, 2024, general elections.

An opposition alliance in Pakistan, TTAP, has expressed willingness to engage the government in talks regarding constitutional protection and a national counterterrorism strategy, citing rising attacks in K-P and Balochistan.

Spokesperson says India has failed to bring those involved in the attack on Samjhauta Express to justice

Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) reported that 34 terrorists were killed in recent separate operations conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces.

Five terrorists were killed during an operation conducted by security forces in Balochistan's Pishin district, as reported by ISPR.

Three bodies have been discovered in Balochistan, with one identified as Jehanzeb son of Muhammad Esa.

The Balochistan Assembly has unanimously adopted a joint resolution demanding that the federal government increase the province’s representation in both the provincial and national assemblies.

Religious scholars in Quetta emphasized that violence is not a solution and urged all stakeholders to engage in dialogue to resolve issues in Balochistan.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed to hold Pakistani soldiers captive and has reissued a deadline for their demands.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted widespread rain and thunderstorms for Monday across northeast Balochistan, lower Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, south Punjab, and Karachi, following recent rain devastation.

Habibullah, also known as Lalu, an Afghan Taliban terrorist implicated in the killings of FC personnel, has been apprehended in the Kuchlak area of Balochistan.

Heavy rains and flash floods have caused widespread devastation in Balochistan, Pakistan, resulting in seven deaths, destruction of over 100 houses, and submerging of farmland. The heavy rainfall has also paralyzed cities and led to significant infrastructure failures.

A fresh spell of heavy, intermittent rain, strong winds, thunder, and hail has caused widespread havoc across more than 30 districts in Balochistan, Pakistan, leading to flood-like situations.

Gas supply has been halted in parts of Balochistan after a pipeline was reportedly blown up, causing disruptions to the region's energy infrastructure.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department has forecast rainfall across the country, starting from April 1, due to a westerly wave approaching Balochistan.

Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued a warning for widespread rain and thunderstorms across various regions including Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa over the next 24 hours.

Pakistan faced criticism at a UNHRC session over alleged human rights violations in Balochistan, with a Japanese activist also accusing authorities of enabling unchecked exploitation of the region's natural resources.

Mobile and internet services have been suspended across Balochistan due to security concerns coinciding with Pakistan Day celebrations.

A western weather system is forecast to bring strong winds and sudden heavy rain to Pakistan's Balochistan and Sindh provinces between March 25-28, with Karachi also expecting impacts.

Pakistan's Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) has foiled a plot to attack railway tracks in Karachi, arresting five terrorists from the Balochistan Republican Army (BRG) who confessed to previous low-intensity explosions.

Balochistan has announced plans to upgrade 1000 schools, with Bugti vowing to address and eliminate educational backwardness in the region.

War in Iran disrupts fuel smuggling lifeline in Pakistan’s Balochistan  Arab News

The Pakistani provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are bracing for hazardous pollutants as westerly winds are expected to push toxic smoke towards the region.

The Pakistani Army reported killing 15 terrorists in two separate operations in Balochistan. In one operation, troops engaged a 'Khawarij' hideout, resulting in 12 terrorists being killed.

The Pakistan Army announced that 15 terrorists from TTP and BLA were killed in two operations in Balochistan, targeting groups allegedly backed by India.

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations has said that instability in Iran could trigger large-scale movements of people, particularly towards Balochistan. In a statement issued from UN Headquarters,…

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for executing seven Pakistani soldiers who were captured during 'Operation Herof II'.

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Thursday again declared PPP’s Ali Hassan Zehri the winner of Balochistan’s PB-21 (Hub) constituency. The development comes more than two years after the 2024 general elections and a day after the electoral watchdog ordered a recounting of votes polled in the constituency’s 39 polling stations “as soon as possible but not later than 3 working days positively”. Subsequently, the ECP said in its notification issued on Thursday: “Pursuant to the o...

Sanitisation operations still underway to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored terrorists in the area, military says

KARACHI: An anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Thursday framed charges against main suspect Armaghan Qureshi and co-accused Sheraz in the Mustafa Amir murder case. Amir, 23, was allegedly kidnapped and murdered by his friends — Armaghan and Sheraz — in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) on Jan 6, 2025. According to the police, the accused stuffed Amir’s body in the trunk of his car and torched it in the Hub area of Balochistan. Both accused denied the charges before the court, which also su...

Police say unidentified attackers targeted the house with firearms and an explosive device, causing extensive damage

QUETTA: The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) killed five terrorists, including a suspected suicide bomber, during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Pishin district of Balochistan, said a statement on Monday. The operation took place near the old Surkhab refugee camp in the district. A CTD spokesperson said a heavy exchange of fire took place during the law enforcers’ raid on the terrorist hideout. As a result, a suspected suicide bomber and his four accomplices were killed. The s...

Balochistan is grappling with a severe water crisis, exacerbated by overpopulation and a rapidly dropping water table, leading to increased water stress and food insecurity across the province.

(LEFT) PHF President Tariq Hussain Bugti announces his resignation; while, PCB Chairman and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi meets players from the national team.—Dawn • PM accepts Tariq Bugti’s resignation, Wani named interim president • Outgoing chief imposes two-year ban on captain Ammad Butt before quitting • PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi meets players, hands ‘compensation’ cheques • PSB blames PHF for mismanagement; Bugti alleges board delayed payments • Shake-up follows Australia tour fiasco, when players were left without hotel upon arrival LAHORE / ISLAMABAD: Amid a deepening crisis in Pakistan hockey, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday accepted the resignation of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Tariq Hussain Bugti and appointed Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Federal Secretary Mohiy­uddin Ahmed Wani as ad-hoc president of the federation. The premier also accepted the resignations of PHF Secretary Rana Mujahid and Treasurer Shahid Pervaiz Bhandara. Their replacements had not been announced until late Thursday night. The developments came amid controversy over the national team’s tour of Australia for the FIH Pro League, where accommodation arrangements could not be secured on time, forcing players to spend several hours on the road. The team’s overall performance in the Pro League also came under criticism. In addition, PHF elections had been facing delays. Mr Bugti had been appointed by interim prime minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar to hold elections but did not complete the process during his tenure. Similarly, in his tenure, Mr Bugti-led PHF was accused of inaction over alleged corruption, pointed out by the Auditor General of Pakistan. There are more than 100 audit paras related to the PHF, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been probing the matter for over a year. Speaking after his appointment, Mr Wani said the governance mechanism of the PHF would be improved. “In the next six weeks, we will prepare a business plan for the PHF and take steps to run this federation on professional grounds,” he said. He added that IPC would form a working group with all sports boards and education bodies to focus on grassroots development and that international trainers and coaches would also be engaged. “There is no shortage of resources, but the PHF is facing financial management issues. We will work on this,” he said, adding that he would ensure free, fair and transparent elections. “Hockey, being the national game, is close to our hearts and we will take every possible step to bring positive change,” he said. National captain ‘banned’ Earlier on Thursday, before the prime minister’s decision, Mr Bugti announced his resignation, but not before imposing a two-year ban on national captain Ammad Shakeel Butt, citing findings of a committee regarding alleged misconduct. “I received a message (from a certain quarter) and I am resigning from the post as it is not a big issue. Had the prime minister asked me six months earlier, I would have left,” Mr Bugti said, appealing to the prime minister and Field Marshal Asim Munir to constitute an independent committee to probe the entire episode. He said he was ready to face any punishment if found responsible. However, shortly after Mr Bugti’s resignation, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi met the hockey players, including Ammad Butt and Hanan Shahid. In a message on X, Mr Naqvi said: “I am not becoming Hockey Federation President but we will assist players till this turmoil ends.” Talking to the media after the meeting, Mr Butt said Mr Naqvi directed that a training camp be set up in Lahore from Friday for the World Cup qualifiers to be held in Egypt and that immediate steps be taken to hire foreign coaches. Mr Butt said former Pakistan coach Roelant Oltmans had been contacted and might join the team directly in Egypt. On the reported two-year ban, Mr Butt said Mr Naqvi told him there was no ban and that the same team which toured Australia would travel to Egypt. The ban had reportedly been imposed under the PHF constitution, raising questions over the process for its reversal. The PCB later issued a statement confirming Mr Naqvi’s meeting with the players and announcing that cheques of Rs1,000,000 had been distributed to each member of the national team, which took second position in the last six international tournaments. The cricket board said Mr Naqvi had assured full cooperation in streamlining the affairs of the players and confirmed that tickets, hotel accommodation and kits would be arranged for the World Cup qualifying round. Outgoing PHF president Mr Bugti told Dawn that arrangements for the qualifiers had already been made through a grant from the Balochistan government. PSB-PHF blame game Meanwhile, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) issued a statement rejecting allegations levelled by the PHF and placing responsibility for the Australia tour’s mismanagement on the federation. The PSB said it had fulfilled all financial obligations for the FIH Pro League Phase 2 in Hobart and made timely payments. It alleged that the PHF had submitted visa applications late and with incomplete information, delaying the team’s departure from Feb 2 to Feb 5. According to the PSB, it bore Rs27.1 million in air ticket expenses and an additional Rs9.7m burden caused by the visa delays. It said that, at the PHF’s request, an advance of 49,280 Australian dollars was issued for hotel accommodation, along with daily allowances of USD 1,610 per player and USD 3,000 for miscellaneous expenses. The PSB also stated that while the PHF had sought a total grant of Rs350m for the Pro League, the government approved Rs250m, with the remaining amount to be arranged by the federation. It alleged that most of the PSB’s grant had been spent on salaries and foreign tours of PHF officials, prompting the board to stop issuing direct grants. In contrast, Mr Bugti had alleged that the PSB failed to make timely payments for hotel bookings and criticised the formation of a probe committee comprising PSB officials. He also urged the formation of a Pakistan Hockey Board and the transfer of stadium control to the PHF to generate funds. Meanwhile, Hockey legend Shahbaz Ahmed Senior, who had opposed Pakistan’s participation in the Pro League, said the national game deserved special treatment from the government. He criticised the heavy expenditure on the league and said the funds should have been directed towards grassroots development in schools, colleges and districts. Pakistan, a four-time World Cup winner and three-time Olympic champion, has faced a prolonged decline in international hockey over the past 30 years, amid repeated allegations of poor administration and negligence in the PHF officialdom, non-existent planning and upgrading, sheer lack of accountability, nepotism and a high frequency of changes in the federation. Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2026

KARACHI: A large number of people gathered outside the Karachi Press Club on Wednesday to protest the killing of a man during an alleged encounter by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) a day earlier, alleging that the deceased was a student who was earlier arrested by law enforcers. On Tuesday, the CTD said that officials had conducted a raid on a house in Shah Latif Town on a terrorist hideout. According to the department, the men inside the house opened fire on officials, who then retaliated, leading to the deaths of four suspects. The CTD said the suspects belonged to the Bashir Zeb network of Fitna al-Hindustan, a term used by the state for Balochistan-based terrorist groups. However, on Wednesday afternoon, a large number of residents of Old Golimar, including women and children, protested and staged a sit-in outside the KPC, demanding justice for Hamdan, one of the killed suspects identified by the CTD. The deceased’s father, Mohammed Ali said that on December 29, 2025, his son Hamdan was allegedly taken away by the CTD. He said that he had also filed a petition before the Sindh High Court against the alleged disappearance of his son.  He asserted that it was a “fake encounter” and termed it an “extra-judicial killing”. He further alleged that the CTD was not even handing over the body and was demanding that he sign a form admitting that his son was a “terrorist”. He said that the CTD, in a press conference on Jan 6, 2026, had announced the arrest of his son Hamdan and others, and their affiliation with a banned terrorist organisation. He said that his son was a student who had no affiliation with any terror group. The father said that his son was supposed to be presented before a court on Wednesday after the completion of his physical remand in the CTD custody. However, the family was informed that he had been killed in an alleged encounter. He said the family visited the Edhi morgue, but were informed by officials that they would not hand over the body without the approval of the CTD.

A former senator has criticized the Balochistan Mines Act, alleging it allows the central government to exploit provincial assets. The act has raised concerns about resource control and provincial autonomy.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted widespread rain and thunderstorms for Monday across northeast Balochistan, lower Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and south Punjab, following recent rain devastation.

The Balochistan government has set the price of Iranian smuggled petrol at Rs280 per litre, warning of strict action against those who charge more than the fixed rate.

Heavy rains have wreaked havoc across Pakistan, resulting in at least 17 deaths, including a child in Karachi, seven in Balochistan, and four in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The leadership in Pakistan's Balochistan province has expressed support for an austerity drive. Chief Minister Bugti has also pledged to provide relief measures for the poor.

Unidentified armed men blew up a main gas pipeline at Western Bypass area, suspending gas supply to Quetta and other parts of Balochistan.

The Philippines and Bangladesh are set to adopt a new funding model aimed at enhancing access to financing for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), particularly in regions like K-P and Balochistan.

A flash flood alert has been issued for Balochistan, Pakistan, with intermittent rains expected across 27 districts from March 24-25 and March 27-29.

The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has issued a stark warning to international cricketers, urging them to withdraw from the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) due to the volatile security situation in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Sun-dried vermicelli plays a significant role in anchoring Eid traditions in Pakistan's Balochistan province.

Balochistan Governor Jaffar Khan Mandokhail stated that brain drain is severely impacting higher education in the province's public universities, with senior professors migrating due to a lack of facilities.

A 4.5-magnitude earthquake has jolted Khuzdar in Pakistan's Balochistan province, with local officials confirming no loss of life or property.

Two wings of the force, comprising around 3,000 personnel, will aim at maintaining stability

Balochistan has unveiled a comprehensive 10-year Provincial Action Plan, estimated to cost Rs4 trillion. The plan will focus on enhancing security, creating employment opportunities, and fostering sustainable progress in the region.

Schools and colleges in Balochistan have been closed for two weeks due to a severe fuel crisis, with the Education Department encouraging virtual learning.

At least seven people, including a child, were killed and eight others injured in a road accident on the Makran Coastal Highway in Balochistan, Pakistan, when two cars collided.

Pakistan’s Balochistan on high alert as nearly 2,000 enter from Iran amid Middle East conflict  Arab News

Forum briefed that 721,000 Afghan migrants have been repatriated from Balochistan

Operation Ghazb Lil Haq has intensified, resulting in the killing of 67 Taliban terrorists in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) provinces, with 16 physical attacks repulsed.

Pakistani security forces killed 10 terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in Zhob, Balochistan, according to the military's media wing.

A cylinder explosion at a home in Chaman, Balochistan, killed at least five people. Separately, a police officer was martyred in a blast targeting an armored vehicle on the Quetta-Karachi highway.

An anti-terror operation in Pakistan's Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces has resulted in 34 deaths, as the Centre and provinces discuss a coordinated security plan.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is scheduled to hear a case concerning alleged irregularities in the February 8 elections for a Balochistan Assembly seat, involving an increase in polled and rejected votes.

QUETTA: Armed men abducted 14 workers of a construction company wor­king on a government project and at a crushing plant at two different places in Khuzdar and Barkhan districts of Balochistan, police said on Sunday. A senior police officer said the armed men barged into the construction company’s camp in Mula area, some 60 km from Khuzdar, and kidnapped 11 workers including a project manager. “Six labourers belonged to Sindh province who were working with the com­pany while five others are r...

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake jolted parts of KP on Friday, the Pakistan Meteorological Department said. The earthquake struck at 6:09pm at a depth of 101 kilometres, with its epicentre located in the Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan, the department said. According to DawnNewsTV, tremors were felt in Shangla, Swat, Mardan, Swabi and Nowshera. In Shangla, tremors were felt at the time of iftar, prompting people to rush out of their homes. No casualties or damages have been reported from the district. Pakistan falls on three major tectonic plates — the Arabian, Euro-Asian and Indian — which create five seismic zones under the country. The intersection of multiple fault lines means that tectonic movements remain a frequent occurrence in the region. Earlier this week, a 5.6-magnitude earthquake was recorded 86km northeast of Balochistan’s Khuzdar. Last month, an earthquake of magnitude 5.8 jolted parts of Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan, Peshawar and adjacent areas of KP. The same month, another 5.8-magnitude earthquake jolted parts of the country. Tremors were felt in Islamabad and parts of KP. Additional input by Umar Bacha.

WITH a spate of terrorist attacks occurring in the country, a national-level response is required to address the issue. The latest atrocity has occurred in Bajaur, where a suicide bomber reportedly belonging to the banned TTP attacked a checkpost in Bajaur on Monday. At least 12 people were martyred in the incident — 11 security personnel and one minor girl. Meanwhile, on the same day, a motorcycle rigged with explosives was blown up outside a police station in Bannu, causing two fatalities. Furthermore, law enforcers said on Wednesday that terrorists attacked a police station and a customs office in Dera Ismail Khan, martyring a policeman and a customs officer. They added that the terrorists also fired at passenger buses in the area. Several acts of deadly violence have occurred in this area over the past few weeks. Following the Bajaur attack, the prime minister commented that “under the vision of Azm-i-Istehkam, security forces are gaining major success in the fight against terrorism”. While that may be so, Pakistan continues to pay a high price as it loses security personnel and civilians in frequent terrorist attacks. For example, apart from the latest violence in KP, an imambargah in Islamabad was attacked earlier this month causing major casualties, while only days before the atrocity in the capital terrorists had launched coordinated attacks in Balochistan. Unless the state takes a fresh approach towards terrorism, we may see the same high levels of violence in the current year as we did in 2025. Last year was said to be the bloodiest in over a decade. The threats may be varied — separatist terrorists in Balochistan, religiously inspired elements in KP — but the response must ensure that all violent elements are neutralised, and the state is able to establish peace in the disturbed areas. There has been some welcome recent cooperation between the KP government — which remains the hardest hit province — and the centre in the field of counterterrorism; such efforts must be intensified. A whole-of-nation approach is needed, applying kinetic measures where required, conducting intel-based operations as well as sociopolitical interventions as needed, to defeat terrorism. The federal and provincial governments, lawmakers and the security apparatus, along with CT experts, must put their heads together to arrive at a solution that can bring lasting peace to Pakistan. Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2026

IT has been a worrying week for the PTI as the news about Imran Khan’s health became public and dominated news headlines and private conversations. From the sketchy information that came out initially, it appeared that he had some problem with his eye and has lost up to 85 per cent of his vision in that eye. This was reported by lawyer Salman Safdar, after his court-appointed visit to Khan at Adiala jail, though there had been news reports about the matter earlier. According to Safdar, the percentage was communicated to Khan by the doctors who examined him. The government’s earlier reaction appeared a bit inexplicable. It took the government days to confirm the problem, after it had been reported in the media. And then it did nothing while the Supreme Court woke up to take notice, sending Safdar to the jail. Over the weekend, there were reports that a team of doctors had been sent to the jail to examine him, while his family and personal doctors continued to wait for access. As the family and party refused to accept the government’s decision of giving access to only certain individuals (rather than the family being allowed to choose the person) the examination was carried out at the jail by doctors without any relative present. The party is trying to build up pressure through protests and sit-ins, which seems to cause no sleepless nights to the government. This is so despite reports that KP is cut off from the rest of the country. The PTI is getting criticised for this though it is hard to understand why the federal government is ignoring it. To return to Adiala, this is a good time for a reminder that health issues, especially of imprisoned political prisoners, should not be downplayed or treated lightly. For this reason, the government should provide all help possible to Khan; this includes allowing his family and personal doctors access to him, so they can take decisions on his health, instead of the government making the call on which experts should conduct the examination and which family members can be present. This reeks of callousness. The reports of Khan’s ill health have added fuel to the talk of a probable deal. However, there is a political angle to this entire crisis. The reports of Khan’s ill health have added fuel to the talk of a probable deal or ‘dheel’, as it seems to share some parallels with the platelets issue which allowed Nawaz Sharif to be freed and flown to London. In fact, the question being asked again and again in Islamabad is if this is Platelets 2, implying that some backroom deal is being worked out. It is important to point out that the rumours did not just emerge as a result of health worries but also because of the events of the past couple of weeks where the cooperation between the federal and provincial governments improved. Once this happened, the allegations of drugs and other criminal activities directed at Chief Minister Sohail Afridi gave way to praise for his cooperation with Islamabad. So once the reports of the illness emerged, it simply lent credence to rumours that something was cooking. At the moment, it is hard for those of us who live away from Constitution Avenue to comment on these rumours with any authority. And beca­u­­se I would like to feel better about my ignorance, perhaps some of those living on Constitution Avenue may also be as ill-informed as the rest of us mortals. Despite this, there is much support for the idea of a deal. For many within the PTI think it would provide respite to Khan and others and allow them to bide their time for a return to power (as in the case of other politicians in the past). On the government side, it is seen as a way to bring some stability to the situation, allowing the focus to remain on the economy. But all of this ignores a larger issue, beyond the comfort of those in power and in the opposition. In other words, beyond the level of high politics, where the players tend to be the establishment, the parties and individuals, what will this deal bring to dissatisfied people who have been feeding into the popularity and stature of Khan? Indeed, it is this anger which has resurrected Khan and the PTI each time a fatal blow has been struck in the direction of the party in what is ‘high politics’. Be it the forcible exits from the PTI of the more well-known faces or the decision to deprive the party of its symbol — popular support for it has ensured that none of these steps proved sufficient. So it is perhaps worth asking what the impact of such a ‘deal’ would be. Suppose the deal does disillusion the supporters of Khan and undermines his popularity in a way similar to Nawaz Sharif and the PML-N. (The economy and its poor performance landed the second blow on N’s popularity.) And then what options will be left for the people to still stay engaged in electoral politics. Will they opt for other, smaller political parties? Or will they look around for more radical options? The point here is that the establishment needs to realise that it not going to be enough to win over politicians to its side; this is not what will make the system more stable. For the system to be more stable, it is not enough to quieten politicians such as Sharif or Khan and then revel in the decline of their popularity. For real stability, the anger of the people will have to be understood and then addressed through a more equitable economic system and by giving them a voice. Instead of focusing on high politics, it might help if for once attention were paid to the level at which people operate and exist. After all, electoral politics in Balochistan was tamed some time ago, but stability continues to be elusive. The writer is a journalist. Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2026