Protests Erupt in Balochistan Over Kidnapping of 10-Year-Old Boy in Quetta

On November 26, Balochistan experienced a complete shutdown as protests broke out over the kidnapping of a 10-year-old boy in Quetta. The boy, the son of a jeweller, was abducted on November 15 by armed men near Patel Bagh. Despite 10 days passing, law enforcement has made no progress in finding him, leading to public outrage.

Political parties, traders, and civil society called for a road blockade, disrupting life across the province. Schools, courts, and transportation were halted, and major highways connecting Balochistan to other provinces were blocked. Even the Balochistan High Court was affected, with judges absent and hearings disrupted.

Opposition lawmakers criticized the provincial government and security forces for their failure to recover the boy. Nasarullah Zerey of the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party and other leaders called for continued protests until the child is found. Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti assured that all resources were being used to resolve the case, but his claims were met with skepticism.

The protests highlighted public frustration over the worsening law and order situation in Balochistan, a resource-rich but neglected region. Despite heavy security deployments, the incident raises questions about Pakistan's priorities, focusing more on political issues than public safety. The protests ended without violence, but the systemic failures in addressing such crises remain evident.