The political situation in Balochistan remains extremely tense with most analysts warning that any confrontation on Sunday (April 6) could further escalate unrest in the region. These dire warnings from different political leaders have been issued after Dr Mahrang Baloch of the Baloch Yekjehti Committee (BYC) and Sardar Akhtar Mengal both spurned Pakistan government offers to intimidate them.
The representatives of Pakistan government told Dr Mahrang in no uncertain terms that her release from prison was subject to the condition that she ceases all political activities henceforth. She was told that her release can only happen after she gives up her right to protest and organise sit-ins at roads. The government also conveyed to her that none of the activists arrested after her incarceration would be released and will face the legal consequences of their actions.
On the other hand, senior Baloch political mainstream leader Akhtar Mengal has been issued veiled threats that if he continues to insist on march to Quetta on Sunday, the government will take drastic action against his supporters. However, undeterred by all this, Sardar Mengal has decided to go ahead with his march to Quetta to protest against the arrest of Dr Mahrang and several BYC activists some days ago, according to reports in The Balochistan Post.
The thrust of his arguments has been unconditional release of Dr Mahrang, her BYC supporters, particularly the Baloch women. He has virtually made it a prestige issue to get the Baloch women released from the clutches of the Pakistani security forces.
Dr Mahrang rejects Govt offer
Negotiations between Pakistani authorities and detained Baloch activist Dr Mahrang have failed after she rejected a conditional offer for her release, her family has said. A delegation led by the Deputy Commissioner of Quetta had visited Dr Baloch at Hudda District Jail to convey to her the conditions she will have to abide by before her release would be considered. Her sister Nadia Baloch said the officials proposed that her release would be granted if she agreed to restrict her political activities.
The conditions reportedly included a written assurance that neither Dr Baloch nor her organization, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), would block roads or organise sit-ins in major cities. These conditions were outright rejected by Dr Mahrang as “unacceptable’’ and rejected out of hand, her sister said.
“Dr Mahrang Baloch refused to accept these conditions. The DC informed her that her release would be granted under these terms, while the release of other detained BYC members would be considered only after her release,” Nadia Baloch said on X. “She made it clear that she will not leave prison until every detained leader and activist is released.”
After Dr Mahrang’s refusal to accept the conditions laid down by the government, its delegation had to end the discussions.
Dr Baloch, a prominent human rights activist and organiser of the BYC, was arrested on March 22 during a peaceful sit-in protest in Quetta. She remains imprisoned at Hudda District Jail since then. Since the day of her arrest, protest rallies and sit-ins have continued across Balochistan and in major cities of other provinces, including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. The protestors have been demanding the release of Dr Baloch and other detained activists.
Sardar Mengal’s Sunday march
Meanwhile, things are escalating for the government on another front as a sit-in led by Balochistan National Party (BNP) leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal is ongoing at Lakpass, near Quetta. Mengal’s announcement of a long march to Quetta on Sunday to press for the release of BYC leaders and an end to the ongoing crackdown has unnerved the Balochistan government headed by Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti.
A government delegation visited the Lakpass sit-in site near Quetta on Saturday, attempting to negotiate with Sardar Mengal. This delegation included former Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, Deputy Speaker of the Balochistan Assembly Raheela Durrani, and the provincial education minister, among others. This was the third attempt at dialogue with Sardar Mengal since the sit-in began over a week ago. Earlier rounds of talks ended without agreement on any points and things can worsen in the days ahead.
BNP-M has been demanding the release of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders, including Dr Mahrang Baloch and others arrested during recent protests. Sardar Mengal had issued three demands earlier: “Either release all prisoners of the BYC, including women, or then let us march on to Quetta, where we can hold a peaceful sit-in there. Or then arrest us.”
Sardar Mengal said that if the authorities tried to block their movement, the government would be responsible for any consequences. This is being taken as a veiled threat that more mobilisation of BNP activists and supporters for Dr Mahrang and other BYC activists can then be the natural reaction.
All major roads blocked
Meanwhile, the Balochistan government has blocked several roads in an effort to prevent the planned march from reaching Quetta. In Kalat district, the road near Manguchar has been closed. Security forces have dug trenches and placed containers at key entry points, including Lakpass Tunnel, Mastung and Kolpur.
According to officials, these steps were taken to maintain public order. However, local sources confirmed that the purpose was to stop more people from joining the Lakpass sit-in. Highways connecting Quetta to at least 12 districts have been blocked for nine consecutive days.
It has been said that the Pakistan government has got trapped in a situation of impasse with the arrest of Dr Mahrang and Sardar Mengal supporting her. All over Balochistan, there are now dozens of sit-ins and protest marches with no let-up by Baloch nationalist activists anywhere. The unprecedented mobilisation of ordinary Baloch citizens has become a serious law and order problem for the government.
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