Mastung protest talks end in deadlock as demonstrators refuse to budge

WEB DESK: A second round of negotiations between a government delegation and leaders of the ongoing Mastung sit-in ended without resolution on Wednesday, with protest leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal asserting that authorities had failed to address their core demand for the immediate release of detained women protesters.

The high-level government team, comprising ministers Zahoor Buledi and Bakht Kakar, MPA Obaidullah Gorgij, Sardar Noor Ahmed Bangulzai and the Home Secretary spoke with demonstrators who have been camped out for many days. However, Mengal dismissed the talks as inconsequential, stating the delegation arrived “without any authority to make decisions.”

“We made our position clear – there will be no compromise until our women are freed,” Mengal stated adding that this remained their sole condition, rejecting suggestions of finding middle ground.

The protest leader issued a stark warning about the volatile situation at the current protest site, indicating that “anything could happen” at the tense location. He placed responsibility for any escalation on the government, while reiterating demands for permission to shift their demonstration to Quetta.

With both sides maintaining rigid positions, the impasse continues as authorities face mounting pressure to resolve the standoff that has been brought to a standstill.