KARACHI, April 10: The Balochistan National Party leader, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, has said that ban on any organization does not affect the national struggle of Baloch people.
Recalling the events of 1970s when the military rulers banned the Awami League and launched a military operation against Bengalis, the Baloch leader said it was not amazing and unexpected. At that time also, he said, the military rulers declared the Awami League leadership terrorist and anti-state. He said that brute force had been used against innocent people struggling for their national democratic rights.
He compared the current situation of Balochistan to the former eastern wing of Pakistan, saying that once again the military rulers were branding the Baloch leadership as terrorists simply because they were not ready to toe their line.
It was not amazing to note that Baloch people whether they lodged their protest through democratic means or forced to defend themselves in reaction to brutal actions, they were subjected to state terrorism.
Talking to Dawn, the besieged Baloch leader said that military rulers even did not spare the former prime minister of the country, Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif and declared him as terrorist. He said, “We have not attacked anybody nor snatched anyone’s land. Instead our people have been subjected to aerial bombing and chemical weapons are being used against us because we want to protect their land and resources,” he added.
The BNP said that the country was being run by government agencies and accused them of victimising innocent people by keeping them in torture camps without any trial.
He said thousands of people in Balochistan had been arrested by intelligence agencies and their whereabouts were still not declared.
Sardar Mengal said even party workers who came to visit him were not spared as most of them had been taken away by intelligence agencies and a few were released after being severely tortured.
He warned the rulers that the country had already paid a high price for such brutal actions in the past and said that brutal actions would produce bitterness and hatred.
The Baloch leader categorically stated that his party would in no way compromise on the rights of Baloch people and they would continue their struggle till acceptance of their rights.
Sardar Mengal said that a military official had repeatedly approached him for holding talks but he refused.
He pointed out that during Wednesday’s siege of his house, police officials came to his house and asked him to hand over his two guards and a driver, promising that they would be given in police custody. Subsequently, next day one of my servants went to the concerned police station to serve them food. He was too arrested and till day his whereabouts were unknown.
The BNP leader said, “We would never succumb the pressure tactics of the government and our struggle for national rights would continue. We would prefer death rather than surrender,” he remarked.
He lamented that one could not imagine in the present civilized world how the Baloch leaders were being treated by the military rulers. He said that 36 inmates of his house had been denied of drinking water as the supply had been cut off since Wednesday.
Due to his constant protest, he said contaminated water unfit for drinking and washing purposes was supplied to his house. However, he managed to get a tanker through his private means despite refusal of officials on duty.
