QUETTA: A case has been registered against Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) leaders and workers for allegedly violating Section 144 and delivering objectionable speeches.

On Sunday, male and female leaders of BNP-M and workers took out a rally and staged a sit-in in front of Quetta Press Club against the worsening law and order situation in Wadh, where two groups of Mengal tribes were engaged in conflict for past two months.

The protest was led by BNP-M Quetta president Ghulam Nabi Marri, former MPA Shakeela Naveed Dehwar and Shumalia Ismail.

The protesters marched on different roads and later gathered in front of the Press Club, where party leaders addressed the crowd and criticised the government over the Wadh situation.

The rally was taken out despite the imposition of a ban on the gathering of more than five people in the provincial capital by the home and tribal affairs department.

The capital city’s Civil Lines police station has registered an FIR against Mr Marri, Ms Dehwar, Ms Ismail and other party leaders and supporters who participated in the protest.

The case was registered on the complaint of the Civil Lines police station SHO Javed Buzdar under sections 147, 149, 186, 188 and 341 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2023