Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal has announced his decision to stage the Islamabad sit-in on October 30, as his party marched from Khuzdar to Quetta on Sunday to protest the situation in Wadh town. They were on vehicles.

“Sit-in announced in Islamabad on October 30,” Mengal said in a post on X, erstwhile Twitter. “Instead of improving the situation of Balochistan, the policymakers are once again throwing it out of the frying pan into the fire.”

Earlier in the day, BNP-M leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal led the long march from Wadh against the “death squad” which he believes is run by caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti. The political party was also demanding the recovery of the “missing persons”.

In an earlier tweet, Mengal claimed that the provincial government tried to sabotage their “peaceful protest” and the gates of the Ayub Stadium where he was about to address were closed.

But the caretaker Balochistan government rebuffed such reports, saying that there was a misunderstanding or unverified information given to the BNP chief.

A spokesperson of the government said that protesters were given complete security and protection.

“No barrier was erected anywhere on the entire route, rather full security was provided to the protesters. All the people participating in the protest were allowed to enter the stadium,” the spokesperson said.

Mengal thanked everyone who travelled from all over Balochistan to take part in the procession.

“Countless hurdles were thrown our way but that could not stop the sea of people undertakers were so afraid to face. We won’t stop protesting till death squads are eliminated. Thank you for the immense love you have all proved that no matter what nothing can break BNP,” he said.

Threat alert

Security officials have issued a threat alert on Sunday to Quetta in order to face any untoward incident, said a statement.

“Section 144 [under which gathering of more than five people is banned] has already been imposed on important places of Quetta city, including public processions,” said the alert.

The purpose of Section 144 was to keep people away from crowded places, the security officials said, and added that the threat alert was issued in Quetta after the Mastung incident.

At least 55 people, including a police officer, were killed while dozens were injured in a suicide blast near a 12th Rabiul Awwal procession in Balochistan’s Mastung district last month.

They urged the people to avoid taking out public processions, saying that the protection of life and property of the public was their responsibility.

“The public is requested to cooperate with the security authorities while protecting their lives,” it said.

BNP-M long march

When Mengal arrived at Wadh to begin the long march, supporters of the party including women gave him a welcome.

“The long march is for the recovery of missing persons and against the death squad,” he told reporters and stated that the BNP-M should not be intimidated by arrests as it was a “martyrs” party.

Mengal, a former MNA, has been vocal about the issues pertaining to his province. He raised such issues on the floor of the House in the PTI tenure as well.

Last week, he accused caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti of running death squads under the patronage of the state. “Everybody knows how many people have been killed and abducted by this death squad. At the moment, rockets fell near me where I am right now,” he said in an exclusive interview with Spot Light with Munizae Jahangir that was aired on Aaj News on October 18.

In response to a query on Sunday, he said that the government should fulfill its wish by arresting him.

Three days after his announcement, the government urged his party to delay its long march, citing security concerns in the province. The interim setup highlighted that Section 144 was already imposed in the provincial capital.

Mengal accused the government of becoming a party for his rival in a dispute. He was of the view that the apex committee decisions hinted that the government was apparently supporting his rival.

The BNP-M chief added that their struggle was for the establishment of peace in Wadh and the protection of lives and property of the people, however, the government was “not giving importance” to the opinion of the people by giving a decision in the apex committee without listening to their position.

Cavalcades from Saurab, Kalat, and Mastung would join the long march and a public gathering would be held after reaching Quetta where Mengal will present his future action plan.

Meanwhile, the medical superintendent of Quetta Civil Hospital has imposed an emergency at the hospital under the directives of the provincial health secretary.

Caretaker Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai said that Mengal had a land dispute with his rival. He added that the BNP-M chief did not attend any meetings of the government-formed committee to resolve the dispute.

He claimed that the BNP-M chief did not offer condolences to any victims of Wadh tensions.

Achakzai went on to add that Section 144 was imposed in view of the law and order situation as per the orders of the high court. He said that the government would come into action if the order was violated.

“There is a risk of rioting in the BNP procession,” he said.

Meanwhile, the party supporters and Mengal claimed that the government was blocking their protest demonstration. There were reports that supporters of BNP-M blocked the Sariab Road after the long march was stopped by the government.

In reaction, former senator Afrasiab Khattak said that blocking peaceful political activity in the provincial capital was shameful.

“It seems the death squad is a ruling party which won’t allow any opposition. But then they must be nervous by the enthusiastic reception given to the long march on its way to Quetta,” he wrote on X, erstwhile Twitter, on Sunday.