Sardar Akhtar Mengal, the leader of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), warned on Sunday that a “major operation against marchers” is looming as security forces have surrounded the party’s protest group.
Mengal shared the alarming update on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “We are currently positioned at Lakpass, completely surrounded by security forces. A major operation against us is imminent.” He further urged the people of Balochistan to show solidarity by closing all national highways in protest, declaring, “Let the world witness this injustice. We remain peaceful, but resolute.”
The BNP-M leader also placed responsibility for any potential violence or consequences on the government and local authorities, saying, “Whatever unfolds today—the consequences, the bloodshed, the fallout—will rest solely on the shoulders of the government and the local administration.”
This comes after a recent suicide bombing in Mastung near the BNP-M sit-in, which Mengal and his party workers narrowly escaped. Despite the attack, Mengal confirmed that no party members were harmed in the blast.
In response to the growing protests, the Balochistan government has issued a stern warning, threatening legal action against the BNP-M for its long march. Government spokesman Shahid Rind criticized the party’s leadership for provocative speeches, stating that the provincial authorities would pursue legal measures. He added that the government had exercised patience so far and had attempted negotiations with the protesters on two separate occasions.
Currently, Section 144, which restricts public gatherings, is enforced in the region. Despite this, the BNP-M has remained steadfast in its plans, announcing that its long march towards Quetta will begin on April 6, with activists directed to gather at Lakpass in Mastung.
