News Desk
QUETTA: A constitutional petition has been filed in the Balochistan High Court challenging the Balochistan government’s proposal to rename Kalat Division as Khuzdar Division, with the petitioner arguing that the move would undermine the region’s historical identity and cultural heritage.
Filed under Article 199 of the Constitution, the petition states that Kalat has held a central place in Balochistan’s history for centuries and that changing the division’s name would erase an important part of the province’s historical legacy.
According to the petitioner, Kalat is not only one of the oldest historical regions in present-day Pakistan but also served as the capital of the former State of Kalat. While acknowledging Khuzdar’s importance as a major district, the petition argues that replacing Kalat’s name with Khuzdar lacks historical and administrative justification.
The plea further maintains that renaming the division could create confusion in official records, government notifications, public administration, and historical documentation, while diminishing Kalat’s long-standing historical significance.
The petitioner has requested the Balochistan High Court to declare the proposed renaming illegal and restrain the provincial government from implementing the decision. The court has also been asked to direct the provincial authorities—including the Chief Secretary, Board of Revenue, Police Department, Levies Force, and other relevant departments—to continue using the name Kalat Division in all official records and correspondence.
The Balochistan High Court is expected to hear the petition under its constitutional jurisdiction in the coming days.
