Quetta:
One day after warning the BNP of Sardar Akhtar Mengal against entry into the red zone of the provincial capital as part of its current demonstration, the provincial government announced on Sunday that it would stop the BNP head if he was trying to enter Quetta.
The mengal, leading the long march of the BNP, had promised to join Quetta on April 6 (Sunday) to protest against the alleged forced political disappearances in Balutchistan and the arrest of the leaders of the Baloch Yakjehti committee (BYC), including Dr. Mahrang Baloutch.
According to the provincial government, two cycles of talks took place with the management of the BNP, during which they were invited to hold their protest at the Shahwani stadium in Quetta. However, the party had refused and insisted by walking towards the red zone of the city.
Addressing a press conference before the demonstration scheduled for Saturday, the spokesman for the Balutchistan government, Shahid Rind, said that strict legal proceedings will be taken against any violation of the law.
“The government is restrained, but any attempt to violate article 144 or to cause unrest will be greeted by a firm response,” said Rind.
Meanwhile, the administration has placed containers on the entry routes and has parked a large number of security forces staff to effectively prevent BNP managers and workers from entering the city.
Rind Rind went to the X social media platform on Sunday, warning that the head of the BNP, Akhtar Mengal, would be arrested if he was trying to enter Quetta.
“The administration informed Mengal at 6:00 am on the orders issued under the interview of public order (MPO), but he refused to go. If he enters Quetta, they will be arrested,” wrote Rind, adding that the law enforcement staff had been deployed to enforce the order.
The government has also criticized the party’s appeal to block national motorways, describing it as an attempt to disrupt daily life and increase public suffering. Shahid Rind said that clear instructions had been issued to all district administrations that no highway is authorized to be closed.
Meanwhile, residents of Balutchistan expressed their concerns about any travel disturbances. In a separate article, the BNP shared a video stating that the organizations responsible for the application of laws had drawn shells during a rally of party workers at Sona Khan Chowk in Quetta.
White smoke was seen rising in the distance in the images shared online.
Earlier, Mengal had also posted on X, declaring that he and his supporters were surrounded by security forces at Lak Pass and that a major operation seemed imminent.
In response, the BNP announced demonstrations through the province, alleging that the current government had launched a repression against its leaders and workers.
