QUETTA:
The head of the Baluchistan National Party (BNP-M), Sardar Akhtar Mengal, announced Wednesday that he would reveal plans for new demonstrations on Thursday (today) as his ongoing protest against the arrests of rights activists entered his sixth day.
His negotiations with a government delegation the previous day ended without any advance. Mengal, in an X publication, declared that he would announce the next phase of demonstrations at 5 pm of April 3 (today).
“The delegation that visited us yesterday to negotiate about our legitimate demands lacked the authority to speak independently,” he said. “They were ‘messengers’ without power, who ‘meets those who really control this province’.”
He also warned the government that attempts to derail the movement through sincere conversations would not succeed. “Tomorrow, April 3, 2025, at 5 pm, we will announce our next phase of demonstrations,” he reiterated. “If they (the Government) believe that they can distract us with these hollow negotiations, that it is clear: they have calculated poorly once again.”
Mengal also regretted the communication blackout in Baluchistan, calling him an effort to quell the dissent. “From night last night, all cell networks and Wi -Fi in the home in Baluchistan have been closed,” he wrote. “The only purpose of this blackout is to silence the voices of the oppressed.”
In addition, he accused the authorities of blocking the members of PTI senior who were on their way to join the seated. “In response, the trenches have fallen, more containers placed and additional forces deployed. Every attempt that the government does to wash its spots only ends up leaving it more polluted,” he said.
Press conference
On Wednesday, a high -ranking Baluchistan police officer questioned the legitimacy of the Baloch Jakjehti (Byc) committee, stating that it is not a registered organization.
At a joint press conference held at the Quetta Central Police Office, Quetta’s Deputy Police Inspector (DIG) Aitzaz Goraya, provincial government spokesman Shahid Rind and the attached commissioner of Quetta Saad Bin Asad approached the ongoing protests.
Although he recognized the right of the byc to demonstrate, they affirmed that vandalism and destruction of public property would not be tolerated.
“The position of the Baluchistan government has been very clear: all political parties or groups have the right to protest peacefully as guaranteed by the Constitution,” Rind said.
Dig Goraya told an incident at the Civil Hospital, saying that the members of BYC attacked the hospital staff and vandalized security cameras.
“Byc leaders and members went to the hospital to claim the bodies, but they were told to bring the heirs,” he said. “The Byc said that they are the heirs and that they will take away the bodies. I will let you answer the question of who the Bla’s the Bla’s [Balochistan Liberation Army] The heirs are. “
He also said that the byc took the bodies for force, damaging the hospital morgue and assaulting both police officers and hospital staff.
“On the one hand, they [the BYC] Talk about human rights and on the other, they own the bodies of the terrorists, “said Goraya, adding that the police intercepted them and recovered the bodies.
Detailing the damage caused during the protests in Quetta, the excavation revealed that the protesters destroyed more than 36 cameras in the city safe, 18 poles and several hundred meters of fiber optic cables.
“In addition, the University’s door was destroyed, a near post office and some protesters broke into a bank to steal money, but they were rejected,” he added.
He said that legal actions have been initiated against those involved in vandalism, and the first information reports (FIR) have been recorded.
“Everyone has the right to protest, but no one has the right to destroy public or private property or block the right of public passage,” said Goraya. “If you want to protest, do it in front of the press club or in the DC office.”
In addition, he revealed that the authorities had tried negotiations with the Byc, but the group was not willing to participate in the dialogue.
“No one was ready to listen. If they don’t want to listen and simply make a tone and cry … According to the legal procedures given, the district administration had to act,” he said.
When asked about the legal position of the Byc, Goraya questioned: “Where is the byc registered?”
He prepared that if the group had been officially registered, they would have been obliged by specific legal frameworks to carry out their protests.
In response to another consultation, RIND admitted that Internet and cell services had been suspended in Quetta due to security concerns. However, he reiterated that the government remained open to dialogue.
“Negotiations are underway with [Balochistan National Party chief] Sardar Akhtar Mengal in relation to the sitting Mastung, “he added.
