Targeted killings, issues of missing persons: Jamaat-i-Islami to stage sit-in protest in Quetta on July 19

Jamaat-i-Islami on Saturday announced that it would stage a countrywide sit-in on July 19 to protest the targeted killings and finding of decomposed bodies of youth in Balochistan. Jamaat also demanded of the government to bring in 20th Amendment to sort out problems emerged with the 18th Amendment, though the party welcomed provincial autonomy, Secretary General JI, Liaquat Baloch told a press conference held at Idara-e-Noor-e-Haq.
He said JI would organise a protest sit-in in Quetta on July 19 and other cities of the country against the target killings in Balochistan and discoveries of defaced bodies of youth, on a daily basis in the province. He said the issue of missing persons had reached its peak. He warned the government of strong resentment in reaction to the cases of defaced bodies and targeted killings in the province.
He said JI was going to call an all parties' conference in Islamabad during the current month against the drone strikes in the country's northern tribal belt and targeted killings in Karachi to ponder seriously on the situation with the national leadership to find a solution to the problems.
He said Karachi situation had embroiled all the country as law and order was worsening day by day. He lamented the unabated targeted killings in Karachi with rise in money extortion. He urged the government to play role and should stop shrugging off its primary responsibilities.
Baloch termed the Defence Minister's recent statement asking the US to abandon the country's most controversial private airbase (Shamsi Airbase) as shocking. He said Ahmad Mukhtar's statement had exposed the government and other national institutions' strength.
The Secretary General of JI urged the government to introduce another constitutional amendment to solve the issues of agriculture, education and other departments, which surfaced after the 18th Amendment. Regarding MQM move of quitting the ruling coalition, he said although the movement has parted ways with the government, but was still uncomfortable with its decision.