On the frontline: Over 300 women officers join Balochistan police amid rising security threats

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Updated 10 February 2025
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On the frontline: Over 300 women officers join Balochistan police amid rising security threats

  • Female officers will participate in snap checking of vehicles, conduct investigations and carry out raids
  • They completed seven-month training alongside their male colleagues, including intense shooting practice

QUETTA: In the heart of Quetta’s Fayaz Sumbal Shaheed Police Lines, 24-year-old Nimra Muhammad Suleman stands poised among over two dozen female police officials, all preparing for their morning parade.

Having completed a rigorous seven-month training in January at the Police Training College on Quetta’s outskirts, Suleman is driven by a singular purpose: serving and protecting the women and children of Balochistan’s conservative tribal society.

Pakistan’s largest province in terms of landmass, the country’s southwestern region of Balochistan has long grappled with security challenges, with separatist groups intensifying their insurgency in recent years, notably by employing female suicide bombers.

Two years ago, a 30-year-old mother of two blew herself up at Karachi University, killing a group of Chinese academics to avenge Beijing’s decision to jointly undertake infrastructure and energy projects with Pakistan.

The collaboration did not sit well with separatist Baloch outfits, who accuse Pakistan of exploiting the province’s natural resources without benefiting the local population— an allegation denied by successive governments, which say they are carrying out development projects to improve people’s quality of life.

Given the changing nature of the threat, law enforcement agencies have also inducted more female officials in recent years.

“We are not lady constables,” Suleman said while speaking to Arab News on Friday. “We are police officers, and we can do everything by standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our male colleagues, including protecting women and children and countering terrorism.”




Security personnel stand guard outside the Fayaz Suambal Shaheed Police Lines in Quetta, Pakistan, on February 7, 2025. (AN Photo)

The recent graduation of over 1,600 cadets from the Police Training College, including 386 women from 32 districts, marks a transformative moment for Balochistan’s security.

“In other areas such as Punjab and Sindh, [women] police constables were in higher proportion. And now in Balochistan, a very large batch has passed out this time,” she continued. “We will now be equal [in terms of our strength] to Punjab and Sindh.”




Nimra Muhammad Suleman (center) a police cadets, marches at the Fayaz Suambal Shaheed Police Lines in Quetta, Pakistan, on February 7, 2025. (AN Photo)

According to the provincial police department, the newly graduated women police officers have completed various training sessions alongside their male colleagues, including intense shooting practice and lessons on sections of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Now, female officers will also take part in snap checking of vehicles, conduct investigations and carry out raids against suspected criminals.

“When I was posted here in 2014, the total strength of women police personnel was 32, but as crime rates against women increased, the department raised the number to over 500,” said Station House Officer Zarghoona Kakar who trained Suleman and her batch.

“From now on, women will be seen everywhere in Balochistan because the time has changed when women police officers were limited to raids and office work,” she added.

The integration of these female officers comes at a critical juncture. In 2024 alone, Balochistan reported nearly 40 attacks against its police force, resulting in 25 fatalities and 61 injuries.

For many of these newly inducted officers, joining the police force required overcoming societal and familial hurdles. Javeriya Sarwar, another graduate, emphasized the importance of parental support.




Javeriya Sarwar (first right) and Nimra Muhammad Suleman (left) stand guard for a regular parade at the Fayaz Sumbal Shaheed Police Lines in Quetta, Pakistan, on February 7, 2025. (AN Photo)

“Many people in Balochistan have a negative mindset toward sending their daughters to the police department, but girls should join the police force since it provides us the opportunity to serve the masses,” she said.

Initially, Sarwar’s father was hesitant about her career choice, but she persuaded him to allow her to pursue her passion for policing.

“A man in uniform can sacrifice his life for the country,” she said. “With Balochistan being plagued by terrorism, it was my passion to sacrifice everything for the police force and Pakistan.”


Gunmen kill journalist in southwestern Pakistan

Updated 24 May 2025
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Gunmen kill journalist in southwestern Pakistan

  • Latif Baloch, who worked for a national news channel and a local newspaper, was killed in Awaran district
  • According to Freedom Network Pakistan, 53 journalists were killed in the country between 2012 and 2022

QUETTA: Unknown armed men stormed a house in Balochistan’s Awaran district in the early hours of Saturday and killed a journalist working for a mainstream news channel and a local newspaper, a Levies official said.

The killing took place in Mashkay, a remote town in the mountainous Awaran district, regarded as a stronghold of Baloch separatist groups, particularly the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF).

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least developed province, is home to a separatist insurgency led by ethnic Baloch groups, which Islamabad accuses of being backed by India.

New Delhi denies the allegation.

Earlier this month, Pakistan blamed India for a deadly attack on a school van in Khuzdar district that killed eight people, including six schoolchildren.

Zulqarnain Baloch, a Levies official in Mashkay, told Arab News that unidentified gunmen entered journalist Latif Baloch’s house at 3 a.m. and shot him dead while he was asleep with his family.

“The attackers only targeted him,” he said, adding: “Motives behind the murder are being investigated.”

According to the Press Freedom Network, an advocacy organization for media rights in Pakistan, 53 journalists were killed in the country between 2012 and 2022.

Hameedullah Sherani, the network’s provincial coordinator in Balochistan, said journalists in the province face serious threats while carrying out their work.

“Journalists in Balochistan have been working under threats by the state and non-state actors,” he said. “More than 40 journalists in Balochistan have lost their lives in the line of duty over the last two decades.”

The Balochistan Union of Journalists (BUJ) strongly condemned the killing and called for a high-level investigation.

“The provincial government must arrest the attackers behind the killing of Latif Baloch,” said Khalil Ahmed, BUJ president. “Journalists are already facing severe threats in the sensitive region of Balochistan. The government has to take immediate action for the safety of working journalists.”

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, remains one of Pakistan’s most dangerous regions for journalists.


Pakistan’s Punjab reports eight deaths, 45 injuries in rain and storm-related incidents

Updated 54 min 16 sec ago
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Pakistan’s Punjab reports eight deaths, 45 injuries in rain and storm-related incidents

  • Deaths were primarily caused by collapsing dilapidated structures during extreme downpour in different cities
  • A fresh advisory warns of potential damage to weak infrastructure as hail and heavy rain remain in forecast

KARACHI: Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province on Saturday released a preliminary report on damages caused by heavy rain and stormy weather, saying eight people were killed and 45 others injured in different cities as strong winds, lightning and hail battered parts of the country.

The report followed a weather alert issued a day earlier by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), warning of thunderstorms, gusty winds, dust storms and rain in parts of Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Islamabad.

As the day progressed, heavy rain and hailstorms struck the federal capital and parts of KP after dark clouds gathered overhead. In Swat, torrential rain lashed the region with reports of hail in some areas and surging waters in local rivers and streams.

In Punjab’s major cities, including Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Jhelum and Lahore, the storm brought strong winds and poor visibility, prompting authorities to temporarily shut down sections of the motorway for safety.

“Eight citizens lost their lives and 45 others were injured due to storm and rain-related incidents,” the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Punjab said in a statement. “Fatalities occurred in Rawalpindi (1), Jhelum (3), Sheikhupura (1), Nankana Sahib (1), Sialkot (1) and Mianwali (1).”

The PDMA said deaths were primarily caused by collapsing dilapidated structures or being in unsafe locations during the storm. Heavy downpour damaged several mud and old brick houses in many of these places, while in Lahore, incidents of fallen trees and damaged solar panels were also reported.

According to PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia, all district emergency operations centers have been activated, while the provincial control room is monitoring the situation round-the-clock.

“Citizens are advised to avoid unnecessary travel during severe weather and stay away from electric poles and hanging wires,” he warned.

“People should remain indoors during lightning storms and ensure children stay away from weak or damaged buildings,” he added.

Kathia said financial assistance would be provided to affected families in accordance with the provincial administration’s policy.

A fresh advisory issued Saturday evening by the National Weather Forecasting Center in Islamabad warned of potential damage to weak infrastructure, including electricity poles, trees, vehicles and solar panels, due to thunderstorms, hail and heavy rain expected overnight and into Sunday.

Pakistan has increasingly faced extreme weather events, including droughts, heatwaves and floods, linked to climate change. In 2022, it witnessed unprecedented monsoon rains that submerged much of the country, killing about 1,700 people and causing infrastructure losses exceeding $35 billion.


WWF-Pakistan hails community-led efforts to protect markhor on international awareness day

Updated 24 May 2025
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WWF-Pakistan hails community-led efforts to protect markhor on international awareness day

  • Markhors are large wild goats native to the mountainous regions of South and Central Asia
  • They are Pakistan’s national animal and are currently listed as ‘Near Threatened’ by IUCN

KARACHI: A leading conservation group in Pakistan on Saturday praised local communities for helping protect the endangered markhor species, saying people’s efforts had reversed population decline and expanded habitat ranges, as the country marked the International Day of the Markhor.

Markhors are large wild goats native to the mountainous regions of South and Central Asia, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and parts of the Himalayan range. They are Pakistan’s national animal and are currently listed as “Near Threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network, due to habitat loss, poaching and human disturbance.

The World Wide Fund for Nature’s Pakistan office (WWF-Pakistan) credited close coordination between communities, conservationists and government departments in regions such as Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan for positive conservation outcomes.

“Through capacity-building programs and engagement of local communities in conservation initiatives, a positive population trend has been observed in the markhor species,” it said in a statement.

Observed annually on May 24, the International Day of the Markhor was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2024 to raise awareness of the species’ ecological importance and the need for its protection.

“Conservation is not just about saving a species, but it is about preserving our shared future in harmony with nature,” said Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General of WWF-Pakistan.

The organization noted the International Day of the Markhor was an opportunity to recognize the ecological value of mountain landscapes, raise awareness of conservation challenges and honor the communities that helped pull the species back from the brink of extinction.


Pakistan tells UN India politicizing river flows by halting Indus treaty

Updated 24 May 2025
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Pakistan tells UN India politicizing river flows by halting Indus treaty

  • Ambassador Usman Jadoon calls access to clean water a fundamental human right
  • He says India announced treaty suspension to cut off the lifeline of 240 million people

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan told a United Nations forum this week India was using river waters as a political weapon by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), warning that Islamabad would not allow New Delhi to cut off the lifeline of 240 million people or turn water into a tool of coercion.

The remarks came during an Arria-formula meeting of the UN Security Council, an informal session allowing open discussion on pressing international issues. The forum was held as tensions escalated following India’s decision to suspend the 1960 IWT.

While New Delhi has cited a recent militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir to justify the move, Islamabad has denied any involvement and warned that blocking Pakistan’s access to river waters threatens regional stability and violates international law.

Addressing the forum on Friday, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, Pakistan’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, emphasized that access to clean water was a fundamental human right. He condemned India’s actions, pointing out the suspension of the IWT constitutes a grave violation of international law.

“India’s decision to illegally and unilaterally suspend the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, aiming to impede the flow of water guaranteed to Pakistan under the Treaty, is a grave violation of international law, including human rights law, the treaty law and customary international law,” Jadoon said.

He further criticized statements from Indian leadership suggesting intentions to “starve the people of Pakistan,” describing such rhetoric as dangerous and perverse.

Jadoon called upon India to adhere to its legal obligations and refrain from actions that could disrupt the flow of rivers vital to Pakistan’s population.

“We strongly condemn India’s unlawful announcement to hold the Treaty in abeyance and call upon India to strictly abide by its legal obligations and refrain from stopping, diverting or restricting rivers that are a lifeline for 240 million people of Pakistan,” he continued. “We will never accept any such moves.”

The IWT, brokered by the World Bank in 1960, has been a cornerstone of water-sharing between the two nations. Its suspension marks a significant escalation in India-Pakistan relations, with potential implications for regional stability and humanitarian concerns.


Pakistan to cancel passports, register cases against deported citizens

Updated 24 May 2025
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Pakistan to cancel passports, register cases against deported citizens

  • Move follows Middle East complaints over Pakistani nationals involved in begging
  • A committee has also been tasked with strengthening passport rules and regulations

KARACHI: Pakistan’s federal government on Saturday decided to take stringent measures against its citizens deported from other countries for illegal activities by canceling their passports and registering criminal charges, in a bid to curb a growing issue that officials say is tarnishing the country’s international image.

The move follows mounting complaints, particularly from Middle Eastern countries, about public begging and undocumented migration involving Pakistani nationals.

The decision was made at a high-level meeting chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Islamabad.

“It was decided during the meeting that FIRs [First Information Reports] would be registered against deported individuals and their passports would also be canceled,” an official statement released after the meeting said. “The deportees would be placed on the Passport Control List for five years.”

Earlier this year, Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said approximately 4,000 beggars had been deported by Saudi Arabia from 2022 until the end of 2024.

“Deportees are causing embarrassment for Pakistan at international level,” Naqvi said. “Thus, no leniency will be shown to them in the future.”

To further tighten passport regulations, the interior ministry also formed a committee led by the interior secretary.

According to the statement, the committee has been tasked with proposing reforms to strengthen the passport issuance process and enforce stricter scrutiny.

Last month, over 100 Pakistanis deported from various European countries arrived in Islamabad, with officials indicating that many had been involved in fraudulent or undocumented migration.

The latest measures build on earlier actions by the interior ministry aimed at discouraging illegal migration and curbing human trafficking.

Naqvi had previously announced plans to block the issuance of new travel documents to deportees and crack down on travel agents implicated in human smuggling.