Mengal says they bring ‘Eid clothes with coffins’ while marching on Quetta

QUETTA: Former chief minister of Balochistan and President of the Balochistan National Party (BNP), Sardar Akhtar Mengal said that they brought their Eid clothes along with coffins when departing for the long march from Wadh to Quetta.

He added if they are not allowed into Quetta, they would march towards Islamabad.

He expressed these views while addressing the crowd in Khuzdar.

The BNP’s long march from Wadh to Quetta, led by Sardar Akhtar Mengal, began on Friday morning. He was accompanied by central leaders including Sana Baloch, Akhtar Hussain Langove, Advocate Sajid Tareen, and others. A large number of party workers, both men and women, including children, participated.

After reaching Khuzdar, Sardar Akhtar and other BNP leaders addressed the crowd.

Sardar Mengal announced that a sit-in would be staged upon the arrival of the long march in Quetta. He emphasised that containers could not block their way and that the Baloch nation would show the world what it means to harass Baloch women and children. He further stated that cowardly tactics would not break their resolve.

He mentioned that the long march had overcome its first obstacle when the main highway was blocked with trucks, but those efforts failed to stop them. Law enforcement personnel in plain clothes attempted to provoke their people along the way, but their determination for a peaceful march remained strong.

“In another attempt to suppress the movement, all petrol pumps from Khuzdar to Quetta were sealed, and the mobile network was completely shut down. Nevertheless, thousands of people have taken to the streets. The people’s spirit is so high and their resolve is so strong that no force can stop them,” he said.

Upon reaching Kalat, Sardar Akhtar announced that if they were not allowed into Quetta, they would march towards Islamabad.

“We will stage a sit-in at Hockey Chowk in Quetta, in front of the Red Zone, until our demands are met. If needed, Eid prayers will be offered at the Chowk,” he declared.

Meanwhile, central leaders of BNP, while holding a press conference, expressed concern that the lives of Sardar Akhtar Mengal and other leaders were at risk. They stated that the government was using various tactics to stop the party’s long march. Obstacles and containers had been placed from Wadh to Mangochar, and trenches had been dug from Kalat to Quetta.

These views were expressed by the central information secretary of the Balochistan National Party, former federal minister Agha Hassan Baloch, former federal minister Hashim Khan Notezai, Malik Naseer Ahmed Shahwani, Musa Jan Baloch, Ghulam Nabi Marri, Chairman Wahid Baloch, and others at a press conference in the Quetta Press Club on Friday.

They further added that the mobile network and internet services had been shut down.

They called on the government to act sensibly and avoid placing obstacles on the march’s route, as it could worsen the situation. Balochistan is already facing tense conditions.

According to reports until late at night, the march reached Mastung and is expected to arrive in Quetta during the late hours.