A long walk from Balouthistan National Party (BNP) MENGAL, traveling from WADH to Quetta, was struck by a suicide bombing near Mastung on Saturday. However, the head of the BNP, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, and other participants remained unharmed.
The march, which started from the hometown of Mengal, of Wadh, was organized to protest against the arrests of the chief organizer of the Balutchistan Unit Committee (BYC), Dr. Mahrang Baloch and other leaders, as well as a police repression on their current sit-ins. However, the Quetta authorities had denied the permission of BNP-Mengal to hold the rally.
The march, which included various political and motorcycle parties, started around 9 a.m. Friday. BNP-Bengal later said that more than 250 of their workers had been arrested by police during their rally near Mastung. The party also reported dozens of injuries from the police action, including intensive use of tear gas and road blockages by containers.
On Saturday, around 1 p.m., the reports of an explosion near the rally emerged. Sardar Akhtar Mengal confirmed via X (formerly Twitter) that he and his party members were safe.
A spokesman for the Balutchistan government, Shahid Rind, assured to the public that no victim had been reported while stressing that the provincial government was responsible for ensuring the security of the menge and other BNP leaders.
Rind also declared that the explosion occurred near a sit-in site, but no loss of life has been confirmed. He promised that the public would soon be informed of the conclusions of the investigation.
The provincial government had been in contact with the management of the BNP-Mengal since the previous night, and a meeting with the local authorities was planned.
According to deputy commissioner Akram Harifal, a suspicious person was spotted by Levis forces near Luk Pass and was approached by security agents. By trying to flee, the individual has exploded an explosive device, but fortunately, no victim has occurred.
Harifal added that the security measures near the Rally site have been reinforced, with additional levis officers deployed.
In a speech to the supporters of Mastung, Sardar Akhtar Mengal said that four participants in the rally had been injured in the explosion while accusing the state of being the real threat, declaring: “We are not confronted with any threats of any group, but we are making state”.
He insisted that their protest would remain peaceful, despite attempts to degenerate the situation.
The Mengal reiterated its requests for the release of leaders and supporters of the Balutchistan Unit Committee, stressing that the release of prisoners was a key condition for the de -escalation of the demonstration. He also proposed to go to the authorities in exchange for their release, declaring: “Free up women, and we will return”.
BNP-Bengal claims arrests and violent clashes
The BNP-Bengal also said that more than 250 of its workers had been arrested by security forces during operations near Luk Pass in Mastung. The party has accused the application of the law of shooting walkers, using tear gas and setting up roadblocks with containers to stop their progress.
The mengal criticized the government for forcing the people to protest, saying that if the government had worked hard for the well-being of the province, demonstrations would not have been necessary.
In response to the current demonstration, the Quetta administration warned that legal proceedings would be taken if the march was continuing. Friday, the deputy commissioner of Quetta wrote a letter rejecting the request for approval from BNP-Mengal to enter Quetta.
The letter recalled to BNP-Bengal that a prohibition had been imposed by the original department of Balutchistan on all public gatherings, including rallies, processions and sit-ins, for three months from February 28.
The letter also mentioned that the Intelligence and Coordination Committee had decided that rallies or long marches would not be authorized in Quetta’s jurisdiction because of the situation of the public order. He also warned that any violation would lead to the organizers to be held entirely responsible for any disturbance and facing legal action.
The provincial government argued that it was in contact with the BNP-Mengal leadership and reassured that they are committed to ensuring the safety of all participants during the long walk.
The government also stressed that the situation would be closely monitored and that new updates in the investigation into the attack would be provided to the public.
