QUETTA: In a major move, the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) announced the end of its 20-day BNP-M protest in Mastung. The sit-in had been launched against the arrests of Baloch rights activists and the police crackdown.
BNP-M chief Akhtar Mengal declared that the protest at Lak Pass would be called off. He said the decision was made to ease the public’s difficulties. Instead of continuing the BNP-M protest, rallies will now be held across various districts.
Mengal also shared that the party’s central cabinet will gather in Quetta on April 18. During the meeting, they will decide their next strategy regarding the BNP-M protest movement.
The BNP-M protest had lasted nearly three weeks. It demanded the release of Dr Mahrang Baloch, Chief Organiser of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, along with other detained female activists. The sit-in caused prolonged road blockades and increased public pressure.
Earlier, Sindh police arrested BYC leader Sammi Deen Baloch during a demonstration in Karachi. Protesters were rallying against the arrest of Dr Mahrang and others. Dr Mahrang, along with 16 activists, was picked up from a protest camp in Quetta. The action came a day after activists accused police of killing three protesters during an anti-riot operation.
Although Sammi Deen Baloch was later released, the BNP-M protest continued for several more days. Key highways connecting Quetta to Karachi and Taftan remained shut. The closures triggered critical shortages of goods and caused widespread economic distress.
Muhammad Ayub Maryani, President of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI), warned about the mounting losses. He said the BNP-M protest was causing financial damages worth millions daily. Over 1,200 trucks and containers, including 847 tankers carrying LPG and petroleum products from Iran, were stranded at the Pak-Iran border.
Meanwhile, the All Parties Conference (APC) hosted by BNP-M passed nine major resolutions. The joint declaration called for constitutional guarantees linked to the 1948 Instrument of Accession of Balochistan to Pakistan. It also urged for a national dialogue to address Balochistan’s unresolved grievances.
The BNP-M protest may have ended at Lak Pass, but the movement’s spirit remains alive as the party shifts to district-wide rallies.
