QUETTA, Jan 16: A petition was filed on Tuesday in the Balochistan High Court against the detention of Sardar Akhtar Mengal, chief of the Balochistan National Party, and his 14 staff.

Bashir Ahmed, the petitioner, stated that on Nov 28 police detained Akhtar Mengal and 14 people from his residence in Sakiran, Hub Tehsil.

The petitioner further said that on Dec 23 Akhtar Mengal’s cousin, Noor Ahmed, and some other people — including Amir Bakhsh, Bahadur, Haji, Zafar, Shah Nawaz, Rahim, Ahmed, Abdullah, Ghulam Haider, Haji Faujan, Abdul Khaliq and Bahar — were taken into custody by the government agencies. Their whereabouts are still not known.

The detainees are the staff of Akhtar Mengal and worked as drivers, cooks and labourers.

—Correspondent