A sit-in of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) demanding the release of arrested Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders continued on Sunday, after the provincial government’s talks with the party yesterday failed to reach a solution.
BNP-M President Sardar Akhtar Mengal had announced a “long march” from Wadh to Quetta to protest the arrests of BYC chief organiser Dr Mahrang Baloch and other leaders as well as police crackdowns on a sit-in. However, the Quetta administration had denied the party permission for the rally.
On Saturday evening, a provincial government delegation comprising Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, Bakht Muhammad Kakar and Sardar Noor Ahmed Bangulzai met Mengal and other BNP-M leaders at the party’s sit-in site in Mastung.
Mengal, Nawab Muhammad Khan Shahwani, Sajid Tareen and other leaders participated in the talks on behalf of the sit-in participants.
Speaking to the media after the talk, Mengal said: “This sit-in will continue until our women are released.”
In a post on X today, Mengal reiterated his demand that Mahrang and Sammi Deen Baloch be freed. He also claimed that a BYC leader and his relatives were taken away from their house in the wee hours of Sunday.
Mengal alleged: “BYC’s Shahji Baloch, his brother Dr Sanaullah and nephews Dr Aftab and Shams were abducted after three separate raids on their residence. The first raid was conducted at 1:15am, the second one was for the arrest, and the third was to seize mobile phones and electronic [devices].
“This isn’t law but abduction. We demand the immediate release of Shahji, Dr Sana, Dr Aftab and Shams, as well as of Dr Mahrang and Sammi Deen Baloch who were only imprisoned for raising their voice for human rights,” he added.
“Till when will this war against Baloch voices continue?” the BNP-M president asked.
