‘Will not bow down’: Akhtar Mengal rejects govt arrest warrants

QUETTA: Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal has said that his party’s sit-in will continue in Lakpass despite his arrest warrants issued by the Balochistan government.

Addressing the sit-in in Lakpass, Akhtar Mengal said, “The state has decided to crush us, but we will not bow down. This sit-in will continue at all costs, and now we will turn all of Balochistan into a centre of resistance,” according to a statement issued on the X account of the BNP-M media cell.

On the same X account, the BNP-M claimed that “security forces carried out shelling on peaceful workers at Sona Khan Chowk in Quetta.”

Also read: Suicide blast near BNP sit-in in Lakpas, Akhtar Mengal, others remain unhurt

The BNP also claimed that participants of the long march near Lakpass in the Mastung district have been surrounded from all sides by police and security personnel.

However, no statement has so far been issued by the Balochistan government in this regard.

Regarding the BNP’s long march, the Balochistan government has said that “Section 144 has been imposed in Balochistan, and the sit-in participants will not be allowed to enter Quetta.”

Addressing a press conference in Quetta, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said that Akhtar Mengal would be arrested if he marched on Quetta.

He said that “The government held negotiations with the participants of BNP’s sit-in in Lakpass, during which three demands were presented to the government.”

Responding to BNP’s long march on X, Shahid Rind said that the provincial government had informed Akhtar Mengal of his arrest under the MPO (Maintenance of Public Order) at 6 am. However, Mengal refused to surrender.

Shahid Rind further said that “BNP’s call for blocking national highways is adding to the public’s difficulties.” He also said that “All district administrations have been directed to ensure that national highways are not blocked.”

It is worth noting that Section 144 has been imposed across the province by the Balochistan government.