Akhtar Mengal Demands Release of Detained Baloch Women
The demands of the Baloch people, led by Sardar Akhtar Mengal, are centered around the release of detained women and the recovery of missing persons, with the party vowing to continue protests until their demands are met. The situation in Balochistan is complex, with a history of state repression and rising tensions between the government and the Baloch people.
Sardar Akhtar Mengal, President of the Balochistan National Party, has demanded the immediate release of detained Baloch women and vowed to continue protests until their demands are met, amid rising tensions in the region. Mengal addressed a rally in Quetta, where he stated that the Baloch people have endured 75 years of injustice and will not back down until their legitimate demands are acknowledged.
The rally drew a large crowd, with supporters chanting in favor of Baloch rights and reaffirming their commitment to nationwide protests. The event was held in response to a series of demonstrations demanding the recovery of missing persons and was attended by a heavy police presence, but remained peaceful. Mengal criticized the government for stopping the BNP's long march and barring the party from entering Quetta, and accused the military of historical amnesia, reminding them of Pakistan's defeat in the 1971 war.
The situation in Balochistan has been further exacerbated by the killing of a Brahvi language poet and writer, Mir Allah Bakhsh Shahzad, who was shot dead by armed motorcyclists in Quetta. This incident has added to the rising tensions in the region, where the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) has been criticizing the government's handling of the region. Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir has warned Baloch separatists, but Mengal has fired back, stating that no threat from Rawalpindi will erase the memory or demand for justice of the Baloch people.
The Balochistan National Party has vowed to continue its protests and demands for the release of detained Baloch women and the recovery of missing persons. The situation in the region remains tense, with the BNP-M criticizing the government's handling of the region and the military warning Baloch separatists. The killing of Mir Allah Bakhsh Shahzad has added to the rising tensions, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming days.