PPP accuses Akhtar Mengal of using women as human shield

QUETTA: Provincial ministers and members of the Balochistan Assembly affiliated with the PPP have launched a scathing attack on Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Akhtar Mengal, labeling him a “terrorist mastermind” and a “menace to Balochistan.”

Addressing a press conference at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat on Thursday, PPP parliamentary leader and Provincial Minister Sadiq Umrani, deputy parliamentary leader Ali Madad and Provincial Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar warned Mengal to “watch his words” or risk public disgrace if they reveal his backdoor negotiations with the government. They accused Mengal of using women as human shield out of fear of arrest and declared that his party, BNP, represented no more than a union council. They said Mengal’s recent criticism of the PPP was baseless, coming from a self-proclaimed leader who once championed six points like Sheikh Mujib and now sheltered terrorists. They stressed that the PPP always stood against terrorism and sacrificed for democracy, with a legacy of imprisonments and martyrdoms.

They said while Simi Deen Muhammad was released by the Sindh government under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO), Dr Mahrang Baloch faced several FIRs in Balochistan for serious charges including attacking hospitals and burning post offices.

Umrani claimed Mengal negotiated with every ruling party, from Nawaz Sharif to Imran Khan even allegedly receiving Rs15 billion for Balochistan, with no visible outcomes. He reminded that the PPP stepped aside in Bela to support Mengal’s candidate on Asif Ali Zardari’s directive, giving him 43,000 votes. “If we field our candidate in Wadh now, we’ll win that seat too,” he asserted.

Deputy Speaker Ghazala Gola, Ministers Faisal Jamali, Meena Majeed, Parliamentary Secretary Asfand Yar, Sanjay Kumar and government spokesperson Shahid Rind were present.

The PPP leaders accused Mengal of being afraid of handcuffs and called him an agent of foreign powers. They questioned his silence when other women leaders like Faryal Talpur and Maryam Nawaz were arrested. Asfand said Mengal was rattled because his political standing was collapsing and described Dr Mahrang Baloch as the political wing of terrorists. They concluded by emphasizing that the PPP and CM Sarfraz Bugti were committed to peace and development in Balochistan and ready to talk with democratic forces, but not terrorists.