That distinction must not become an excuse for inaction. Provincial leaders should be pressed for their policing plans, investigation results, protection of threatened communities and public explanations when their response falls short. Federal authorities and security institutions should answer for their own decisions with equal candour. If credible evidence implicates any official, investigate it and present it through lawful process. Invoking extraordinary constitutional powers against a province on the strength of a viral correlation would replace a security assessment with a political accusation.
The danger itself is measurable. The supplied figures attributed to the South Asia Terrorism Portal indicate a severe rise in terrorism-related deaths in Balochistan; SATP’s published Balochistan series supports the 2025 total. The 2026 number shown in the supplied material is a partial-year figure through September 22, so it must not be presented as a completed annual count. These are deaths across recorded categories, not a count of civilians alone, and they do not establish who in government enabled an attack. SATP
| Balochistan terrorism-related fatalities | Recorded total | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 471 | Full-year figure in the supplied comparison |
| 2024 | 774 | Full-year figure in the supplied comparison |
| 2025 | 1,534 | Full-year total shown in SATP’s Balochistan series |
| 2026 through September 22 | 2,117 | Partial-year figure in the supplied material; independently confirm the dated extract before publication |
The figures describe the scale of violence. They do not measure the guilt, innocence or competence of a particular chief minister.
What institutional reform would look like to the public
For an ordinary Pakistani, a stronger state is one that can prevent an attack, investigate it competently, prosecute the perpetrators, protect witnesses and tell the bereaved what happened. It is also one that can make an investment decision without hidden favours, enforce a contract regardless of the applicant’s connections and allow courts to review official conduct. Pakistan’s economic problem cannot be solved merely by putting more powerful people in the same room. The IMF’s governance and corruption diagnostic, undertaken at Pakistan’s request, identifies transparency, consistent enforcement and institutional integrity as practical conditions for stronger performance and public trust. imf.org
I see the cost of uncertain rules in the energy sector. A household or business deciding whether to invest in solar equipment needs published terms it can rely on, a functioning utility and an avenue for appeal when an official makes the wrong call. That is why the questions raised in my analysis of changes to solar consumer rules belong in a discussion of national governance. A committee’s announcement is quickly forgotten; a contract signed on the basis of its policy can shape a family’s finances for years. The same principle runs through the case for elected local government with real powers: responsibility has to reach the level at which people live. Zorays Khalid
Can an army contribute to reform?
Yes, through its lawful responsibilities, professional advice and accountable cooperation with civilian institutions. The useful question is whether the resulting arrangements leave decisions open to scrutiny and correction. Better coordination can improve delivery; it should be judged by what citizens can verify.
Does questioning a chief minister’s performance amount to blaming him for terrorism?
No. A chief minister can be held responsible for explaining and improving a province’s response without being accused of aiding militants. That accusation requires its own credible evidence. The same standard must apply in KP and Balochistan, whichever party governs.
What should Pakistan demand next?
Publish responsibilities, security outcomes and investment decisions in forms the public can inspect. Investigate specific allegations against specific people. Let parliamentary oversight and independent adjudication do their jobs. Ask every institution, civilian and military, to account for the powers it exercises.
