GWADAR: President of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) Sardar Akhtar Mengal said growing disappointment over the parliament’s failure to resolve the issues of Balochistan was leaving people with no option but to take up arms.

Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar titled ‘Pakistan’s Judicial System and Human Rights Enshrined in the Constitution’, organised by the Kech Bar Association in Turbat, Mr Mengal said people have become completely disillusioned with the parliament’s role and have lost hope for achieving their rightful demands through this key institution.

“Sitting in a parliament where questions and free expression are not allowed is nothing but a waste of time,” Mr Mengal said.

He emphasised that it was the responsibility of all political parties, leaders, tribal figures, lawyers and other segments of society to join the struggle for the release of Dr Mahrang Baloch and other BYC female leaders.

Criticising the judicial system, Mr Mengal said it no longer provided hope for justice.

Mengal says parliament offers no hope; callsfor united struggle for rights

Highlighting the plight of activists, he mentioned that lawyers representing Dr Mahrang and others were asked to submit affidavits of loyalty from their clients under Article 5 of the Constitution, calling it a deeply tragic moment for the judiciary.

He criticised the media, saying it was “completely restricted and controlled” and that the parliament, judiciary and media were under the influence of the

establishment.

“There is no institution free from the establishment’s interference,” Mr Mengal said. He added that ministers only hold symbolic titles while actual decisions were “made by the establishment”.

Mr Mengal accused major political parties of focusing solely on securing power, signing blank agreements without any regard for the people. Once in power, he said, these parties completely neglect the public in favour of repaying their benefactors.

He added that after the ‘Aghaz-i-Haqooq-i-Balochistan’ package, Balochistan was only given “packages of corpses.”

Former BNP Senator Sana Baloch also spoke at the seminar, saying the ongoing struggle was essential for protecting future generations.

He criticised some political parties for merely expressing reservations over the Mines and Minerals Act instead of rejecting it outright, calling it an attempt to deceive and mislead the people.

The ex-senator said Balochistan needed a long and sustained legal and constitutional struggle in which lawyers must play a key role.

Majid Shah Advocate, the Kech Bar Association president, Mr Mengal’s resistance through democratic struggle, including his long march and sit-in against unconstitutional and unlawful actions in Balochistan.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2025