The BNP-Mengal protest sit-in in Mastung is in its 9th day, with a large number of BNP workers, including women, participating in the sit-in.
Two days ago, BNP-Mengal’s central president, Akhtar Mengal, announced a long march towards Quetta on April 6, with political workers from Mastung, Kalat, and other areas already arriving in large numbers for the gathering.
On the 9th day of the sit-in, political leaders, family members of the missing persons, and social and political figures addressed the protesters.
It is worth noting that Sardar Akhtar Mengal had announced a ‘long march’ from Wadh to Quetta on March 25 in protest against the arrests of Baloch Youth Committee (BYC) Chief Organizer Dr. Mah Rang Baloch and other leaders, and the police crackdown on the sit-in.
On March 26, BNP-Mengal claimed that over 250 of its workers were arrested, and when the marchers neared Mastung, a suicide bomber blew himself up. However, Sardar Akhtar Mengal and others remained safe.
Meanwhile, provincial and federal government officials have been in contact with BNP’s leader, Sardar Akhtar Mengal.
Former Senator Sanaullah Baloch reported that former Senate Chairman Mir Sadiq Sanjrani, Deputy Speaker of the Balochistan Assembly Ghazala Gola, and Provincial Minister for Education Raheela Hamid Durani participated in the ongoing protest sit-in at Lak Pass in Mastung and met with Akhtar Mengal.
Sanaullah Baloch further said that women members of the Balochistan Assembly requested Sardar Akhtar Mengal to bring a solution to the issue, given that during the sit-in, he was targeted by a suicide attack, and there were security concerns. They urged him to end the sit-in.
The central leader of BNP further stated that the assembly members' delegation was unaware of the situation, and Sardar Akhtar Mengal informed them that they should have met with the government delegation first. He said that today, the spokesperson of the Balochistan government’s press conference was threatening, which made them feel that the government is not serious about resolving the issue, and all routes have been blocked.
Akhtar Mengal told the women members of the assembly that if they are bringing a solution, they would show flexibility, but they would not back down from their demands. If the government accepts their demands and releases the women, they will end the sit-in.
In response, the women members of the assembly assured Sardar Akhtar Mengal that they would convey his message to the Chief Minister of Balochistan so that the issue could be resolved as soon as possible.
Sanaullah Baloch further informed that Speaker of the National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq contacted Sardar Akhtar Mengal over the phone and asked, "What can we do to resolve this issue?"
In response, Akhtar Mengal presented his demand to Ayaz Sadiq and told him that today, the women members of the Balochistan Assembly came to him with a solution, and they respectfully placed their demand for the release of the arrested women. He warned that if their demand was not accepted, they would march towards Quetta tomorrow without fail.
Akhtar Mengal stated that their march would be peaceful, but the government was provoking them. The government has set up obstacles on the routes of the long march, and while they may be weak in front of the government machinery, they are not willing to back down from their stance.
Sanaullah Baloch further stated that Speaker Ayaz Sadiq assured that he would raise the matter before the Prime Minister, but as of now, neither the federal nor the provincial government nor the women members of the assembly have provided any response.
Posts
0 Comments