QUETTA: The president of Balochistan National Party (BNP-M), Sardar Akhtar Mengal, has announced “politics of national resistance” as the parliament, judiciary and other forums have failed to uphold people’s rights.

Speaking at a party meeting at Shahwani stadium on Friday night, Mr Mengal said his party “will not bother seeking the government’s permission for its politics”.

“When the government asks us not to stage protests, we demand that it shun its wrong policies that force people to hold protests.”

He asked how his party could remain silent if the authorities “dishonour people and Baloch women, carry out genocide and dump mutilated bodies of our youths”.

Warns of protests outside cantonments if atrocities continue

He warned his party would not hesitate to stage protests outside the military cantonments.

While criticising the judiciary, Mr Mengal said female leaders and political workers were “detained illegally” under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance and courts were “giving dates instead of justice”.

He claimed the courts were deciding cases “according to the will of sector commanders instead of the law and Constitution”.

The meeting was also addressed by BNP-M Senior Vice President Sajid Tareen Advocate; Iqra Baloch, the sister of Dr Mahrang Baloch; Nasarullah Baloch of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons; and other party leaders.

They demanded the release of Dr Mahrang and other political workers detained under the MPO.

Mr Baloch, the chairman of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons, claimed people were being forcefully disappeared, killed in fake encounters and their bodies dumped across the province.

The meeting passed several resolutions demanding the immediate release of Dr Mahrang Baloch, Bebo Baloch, Gulzadi Baloch, Bebarg Baloch and other political workers.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2025