Through his two-year-long movement, the “Haq Do Tehreek” (Gwadar Rights Movement), Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman has emerged from a local political leader to a household name. Elected as a member of the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan, from the port city of Gwadar in February 2024, Rehman is the first ever elected representative from the “fisherfolk” community – a connection he proudly makes in most of his speeches.
Rehman has been an active member of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) since 2003, beginning as a student in his small fishing village of Surbandar –about 22 kilometers northeast of Gwadar City. He later became the provincial general secretary within the JI.
As a vocal critic of the government policies, Rehman has often argued that these policies have deprived local communities in Gwadar of the benefits of the development of the Gwadar Port and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). His advocacy for local livelihoods is a key reason for his popularity.
From late 2021 to late 2023, Rehman spearheaded some of the largest rallies recorded in Balochistan and Pakistan, leading several mass protests and sit-ins through the Haq Do Tehreek. These demonstrations, some of which lasted for over two months, in his words, “were a fight to project the voices of some of Gwadar’s most unheard and marginalized communities”
In this interview, Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman speaks to The Diplomat’s Mariyam Suleman about his decision to run for political office and the future of the Haq Do Tehreek movement.
Why did you decide to run for the elections, given that many locals in Balochistan are disillusioned about the potential for meaningful change through the democratic process?
I had not foreseen that I would run for elections initially. I thought about it for some time. Before that, during the movement, I had experienced arrest and persecution, but time and again, I have talked about people’s rights to some of the most basic services like water, power, safety, freedom of movement, and livelihood. And who do the people make these demands to? Their elected representatives.
Why not dedicate myself to alleviating people’s suffering? Peaceful struggle is the bedrock of lasting change. And, ours is a peaceful struggle, through a democratic process.
People are disillusioned, and it is understandable. It is all rooted in the failure of the elected officials to honor their campaign promises and manifestos. Instead, they prioritize personal gain over public service. This betrayal of trust, and mass corruption has deepened skepticism in the democratic process.
My decision to participate in the elections was not only to represent the interests of some of the most unheard and impoverished people but also to rejuvenate faith in democracy and the parliamentary process. And, now as an elected representative, I bear the responsibility to address the long-standing grievances. And I will continue the struggle I had begun with the Haq Do Tehreek.
Talking of the HDT, how do you see the potential for pushing through the changes advocated by the movement in the legislative process?
It is very early for any significant legislation or measurable change, but we are trying. In the last five months, I have spoken on the assembly floor multiple times. While new legislation is important, we must focus on the strict enforcement of the existing laws and policies.
As a representative from Gwadar, one of the most pressing issues in the coastal belt is illegal fishing. The Fisheries Ordinance of 1971 already prohibits fishing during the breeding season [summer], the use of wire nets, and large vessels that drag the seafloor at any time. However, the Balochistan Fisheries Department restricts local fishing during this season, while illegal fishing by large vessels coming from elsewhere continues to go unchecked.
I continue to talk about a complete enforcement of the law and a ban on this illegal practice. This has been a key area of focus in our movement, since our movement was predominantly supported by the fishing communities of Gwadar. And, it remains a central topic in my speeches on the assembly floor today.
It was also because of our HDT campaigns that, in 2023, the fishermen of Balochistan were recognized as laborers under Pakistani law and the International Labor Organization (ILO) charter. This status protects the rights of fisherfolk, ensuring they receive occupational safety, a minimum wage, and a right to report vessel owners for violations of these rights. This legislation was a major step forward, but the key challenge now is ensuring its implementation.
I am aware that people want results, which include important legislation, but also rigorous enforcement of existing ones. Among other critical issues, I am deeply concerned about the rampant corruption in the province, more than half of the children in the province being out of school, the water crisis, and mismanagement. We already have laws and policies for all of them, but the need of the hour is enforcement and implementation.
I am also concerned about people’s livelihoods, and access to informal trade at the Iranian border in oil and other goods, as there are currently no alternative means of livelihood for the bordering villages. Our focus remains on consistent advocacy, and pushing for strict enforcement of the existing legislations, before introducing new [laws].
Considering Gwadar Port’s critical role in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the HDT movement’s “Charter of Demands” included the demand that “Gwadar Port and its potential benefits trickle down to the local communities.” Now as an elected representative, how do you see that?
Gwadar’s significance in CPEC is undisputed. It is the gateway of the corridor, and will connect us to the global shipping network in the coming times. But, unfortunately, Gwadar district and Gwadar Port have not achieved the development milestones expected a few years ago. On the Pakistani side, this can be attributed to mismanagement, poor planning, corruption, and failure to hire the best minds or the right experts for the jobs. On the Chinese side, they may have their own concerns that have hindered the progress.
It is true that our charter explicitly demands that the local communities must be the first beneficiaries of local resources and that the development should be inclusive and equitable – ensuring that local communities are not left behind. Unfortunately, the port is yet to make a significant difference in people’s lives.
Earlier this year, Gwadar suffered from flash flooding due to continuous rains, but also the lack of a proper drainage and sewage system. Hundreds of houses were destroyed – an outcome that could have been prevented if the well-being of people was prioritized in the planning processes.
Regarding Gwadar Port, though it is not yet fully operational, a chunk of the billions that were pledged to be spent on the port and the region through CPEC, have already been spent. But the distribution of the port revenue remains a major concern, as it has been for many years. Currently, 90 percent of the limited revenue goes to the Chinese operating company, with the Pakistani government receiving 10 percent. Neither Balochistan nor Gwadar sees any share of this revenue, which is a complete imbalance.
Recently, I had a meeting with the Ministry of Ports and Shipping and the Chairman of the Port, Pasand Khan Buledi, where we raised these concerns. At the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan, there is a unanimous agreement among almost all members, regardless of their party affiliations, on the demand for a regional and provincial share of the revenue.
If the situation does not improve in the coming years, together with people’s consultation, I may take necessary steps. This could involve introducing a bill in the assembly or a mass rally. But we will not remain silent if the revenue imbalance continues and the rightful owners of Gwadar – the local communities, especially the fisherfolk – do not receive their due share in the development.
You often emphasize your roots in the fishing community and express your stance against dynastic politics. Have you suffered from the fact that you do not come from one of the elite and feudal political families common in the assembly?
I proudly emphasize my roots in the fishing community, and that my own father was a fisherman. But, then in the Provincial Assembly, I find myself surrounded by sardars and nawabs [petty chiefs and feudal leaders]. Except for a few, including myself, almost all of the assembly represents dynastic politics.
For a long time, political power has been in the hands of a few sardars and particular feudal families. This concentration of power and other forces have hardly allowed any meaningful development for the province.
This is, of course, a challenge for someone like me who comes from a humble background, and talks about issues like hunger and the water crisis. It has in fact been a new revelation but not surprising to find out how disconnected many members of the assembly are from the day-to-day issues faced by the majority of people.
Coming from their privileged backgrounds, many of them have never experienced the hardships of water scarcity, the desperate need for medical care when healthcare infrastructure is poor or nonexistent, the struggle to educate children when even the primary education system is missing in most of the province, and then the staggering rates of youth unemployment. This disconnect makes it very difficult for them to understand and represent the people and their issues.
We need more than just speeches, legislation, or policies to address these critical but very basic issues; it requires a connection with the majority and an understanding of the lives they live.
The Provincial Assembly has only 10 women members out of 65, all on reserved quotas and often through family ties. It is clearly challenging for women to run for elections, to be included in the decision-making processes in political parties, or even participate in local movements. How did you manage to gather thousands of women in your Gwadar rallies?
Women were definitely integral to the HDT. They were not only present at the protests but also campaigned for the movement on various forums, and were at the forefront during police crackdowns. Women were among the injured, but they were also among the fighters. My own mother attended most of the rallies.
I think what is missing in our political and democratic processes is the power of collective effort. To mobilize women, I went house to house in our fishing communities across the coastal belt and beyond, engaging with them directly. And once we had significant support among them, they went to mobilize more. When we collectively support a cause for our rights, even the most oppressed and marginalized can make their presence felt.