BNP accuses agencies of abducting its central leader

Published October 31, 2014
Lal jan Baloch.—Photo courtesy Akhtar Mangel twitter account
Lal jan Baloch.—Photo courtesy Akhtar Mangel twitter account

KARACHI: Central leader and ex-MNA of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) Sardar Abdul Rauf Mengal has appealed to the Supreme Court and Balochistan High Court to take suo motu notice of the kidnapping of people and dumping of mutilated bodies in Balochistan.

Speaking to journalists at the Karachi Press Club on Thursday, the BNP leader alleged that personnel of law enforcement and intelligence agencies had abducted Laljan Baloch — former chief of the Balochistan Students Organisation and one of the central leaders of his party, from Uthal on Wednesday and moved him to an unknown place.

Know more: BNP-M to launch protest movement for recovery of missing persons‏

Mr Mengal was flanked by party colleagues Qasim Ronjh and Hameed Sajna.

“If a Baloch is wanted in a case, he should be tried in a court,” he said, adding that journalists, lawyers, doctors and people of every school of thought were being kidnapped and killed, not just Baloch activists.

“Sanctity of ‘chadar and chardevari’ is being violated in the garb of search operations,” he said and criticised those “still dancing to the tune of democracy”.

Mr Mengal alleged that in the past 18 months 162 mutilated bodies had been found and 218 people were killed in targeted attacks. About 3,000 people were still missing.

Answering a question, he said the issue of Balochistan could only be resolved politically.

Mr Mengal was of the opinion that the ongoing operation in Balochistan was the result of corruption and plundering of provincial resources.

He said the situation in the province was similar to that of East Pakistan, just before the creation of Bangladesh.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2014

Opinion

Editorial

Hasty transition
Updated 05 May, 2024

Hasty transition

Ostensibly, the aim is to exert greater control over social media and to gain more power to crack down on activists, dissidents and journalists.
One small step…
05 May, 2024

One small step…

THERE is some good news for the nation from the heavens above. On Friday, Pakistan managed to dispatch a lunar...
Not out of the woods
05 May, 2024

Not out of the woods

PAKISTAN’S economic vitals might be showing some signs of improvement, but the country is not yet out of danger....
Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...