Faizan Aslam Khan
ISLAMABAD: The exclusion of Balochistan’s non-official representatives from the newly reconstituted Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) has sparked strong criticism in the Senate, with Senator Danesh Kumar questioning the federal government’s decision and raising concerns over the representation of religious minorities from the province.
Senator Danesh Kumar moved an attention notice in the Senate, highlighting the absence of any non-official member from Balochistan in the newly constituted board. The presiding officer referred the notice to the relevant standing committee for further consideration.
According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony on October 8, 2026, the federal cabinet reconstituted the Evacuee Trust Property Board for a three-year term under Section 3(3) of the Evacuee Trust Properties (Management and Disposal) Act, 1975.
The reconstituted board comprises six official members, including the chairman, a joint or senior joint secretary from the ministry’s Interfaith Harmony Wing, and secretaries of the relevant departments from Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
However, the list of 15 non-official members representing Sikh, Muslim and Hindu communities includes individuals from Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while no representative from Balochistan has been included.
Danesh Kumar Questions Exclusion of Balochistan Minorities
Speaking in the Senate, Senator Danesh Kumar expressed concern over what he described as the continued neglect of religious minorities in Balochistan.
“Are we orphans? Do we have no one to look after us?” he asked while questioning the absence of Balochistan’s representatives from the board.
He argued that such decisions by the federal government could contribute to worsening the situation in Balochistan by creating a sense of deprivation among the province’s communities.
The senator further disclosed that the Balochistan government had been asked to nominate members for the board and had submitted names accordingly. However, he said, those nominations were not considered in the final composition.
Danesh Kumar maintained that the matter required attention and accountability, questioning the role of the bureaucracy in the selection process.
Kamran Murtaza Calls It a ‘Mindset’ Issue
Senator Kamran Murtaza also criticised the exclusion, arguing that injustice was not limited to Balochistan’s minority communities but affected the province more broadly.
He said the issue should not be viewed merely as an administrative oversight or the omission of the province’s name from a government notification. Instead, he described it as a reflection of a broader “mindset” that needed to be addressed.
The remarks brought the question of provincial representation, minority rights and federal decision-making into focus during the Senate proceedings.
Senate Committee to Examine the Matter
Following the concerns raised by the senators, the presiding officer referred Danesh Kumar’s attention notice to the relevant standing committee for further examination.
The committee is expected to consider the concerns surrounding Balochistan’s representation in the Evacuee Trust Property Board and the reported non-consideration of nominations submitted by the provincial government.
The development has renewed attention on the representation of religious minorities in federal institutions and the importance of ensuring equitable provincial participation in bodies responsible for managing evacuee trust properties.
