ISLAMABAD: Sardar Akhtar Mengal, the leader of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), has declared that he will lead a sit-in in Islamabad on October 30. On Sunday, his party organized a march from Khuzdar to Quetta in protest of the situation in Wadh town. They conducted the protest on vehicles.
Mengal, in a post on his former X account, announced a sit-in scheduled for October 30 in Islamabad. He criticized policymakers for worsening the situation in Balochistan, accusing them of exacerbating the problems instead of improving them.
Earlier that day, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, a leader of the BNP-M, led a long march from Wadh to protest what he believed to be a “death squad” operated by caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti. The political party also demanded the recovery of individuals who were reported as “missing.”
In a previous tweet, Mengal alleged that the provincial government had attempted to disrupt their “peaceful protest” by closing the gates of the Ayub Stadium, where he had intended to address the crowd.
The caretaker Balochistan government denied these reports, stating that there was a misunderstanding or unverified information provided to the BNP chief.
A government spokesperson emphasized that complete security and protection were provided to the protesters and no barriers were placed along the entire route. They allowed all participants in the protest to enter the stadium.
Mengal expressed his gratitude to everyone who traveled from various parts of Balochistan to join the procession. Despite numerous obstacles, a massive crowd continued their protest, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to eliminating death squads. He thanked them for their overwhelming support, affirming that nothing could break the BNP.
Threat Alert
Security officials have issued a threat alert on Sunday to Quetta in order to face any untoward incident, said a statement.
“Section 144 [under which gathering of more than five people is banned] has already been imposed on important places of Quetta city, including public processions,” said the alert.
The purpose of Section 144 was to keep people away from crowded places, the security officials said, and added that the threat alert was issued in Quetta after the Mastung incident.
They emphasized their responsibility to protect the life and property of the public and urged people to refrain from organizing public processions.
“The public is requested to cooperate with the security authorities while protecting their lives,” it stated.
BNP-M long march
Upon arriving in Wadh, Mengal’s party supporters, including women, greeted him. The long march aimed to demand the recovery of missing persons and oppose death squads. Mengal challenged potential arrests, emphasizing the BNP-M’s status as a party of “martyrs.”
He accused the caretaker Interior Minister of operating death squads with state backing.
The government asked the party to delay the long march due to security concerns, citing existing Section 144 in the provincial capital.
Mengal accused the government of taking sides in his dispute and not considering public opinion.
Convoys from various regions would join the long march in Quetta.
A hospital emergency was declared at Quetta Civil Hospital, and the government warned of action if Section 144 was violated.
Supporters claimed the government obstructed their protest, and BNP-M supporters reportedly blocked Sariab Road.
Former Senator Afrasiab Khattak criticized the obstruction of peaceful political activities in the provincial capital, citing the government’s nervousness about the enthusiastic reception of the long march.
