Syed Ali Shah, News Desk:Â
Quetta, May 4, 2026 — The Balochistan High Court has restrained the provincial government from proceeding with the tender process for the demolition of the historic Balochistan Provincial Assembly building, temporarily halting a controversial multi-billion-rupee reconstruction project.
The stay order was issued by a division bench of the Balochistan High Court comprising Chief Justice Muhammad Kamran Malakhail and Justice Najam uddin Mengal during the hearing of constitutional petitions filed against the proposed demolition.
The petitions were submitted separately by senior parliamentarian Nawabzada Lashkari Raisani and senior lawyer Amanullah Khan Advocate, a former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association. The petitioners challenged the provincial government’s decision to demolish the historic assembly structure, arguing that the move violates constitutional protections related to cultural and historical heritage.
According to court proceedings, the Communication and Works (C&W) Department was preparing to open a tender reportedly worth millions of rupees for the demolition and reconstruction of the provincial assembly building. However, the court directed the department not to proceed with the tender until further orders.
The controversy dates back to the provincial budget of 2024-25, when the Balochistan government announced plans to replace the existing assembly building with a new structure under a project estimated at around Rs5 billion. The proposal immediately sparked criticism from lawyers, civil society members, and political figures who described the building as an important historical landmark.
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Amanullah Kanrani Advocate stated that Article 28 of the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees the protection of cultural identity, heritage, and historical archives. He argued that demolishing the historic building would amount to ignoring constitutional responsibilities and erasing an important part of Balochistan’s political history.
The case is expected to be heard again in the coming weeks.
