Syed Ali Shah:
QUETTA: The Balochistan National Party (Mengal) launched its peace-long march from Wadh to Quetta on Sunday morning. Crowds of supporters joined the long march led by the party chief, Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal from Wadh to Quetta. BNP Chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal also announced staging a sit-in in Islamabad on October 30th to press the government for acceptance of the party’s demands.
The flags-waving supporters of the BNP were demanding durable peace in Wadh and other parts of Balochistan. The party leaders had also accompanied Sardar Akhtar Mengal during the long march.
“We want peace and this is what my party stands for”, Sardar Akhtar Mengal said. He interacted with party supporters on his way to Quetta from the troubled town of Wadh. The BNP Chief claimed under a pre-planned conspiracy the peace of Wadh was being spoiled by some people. The party supporters cannot be made frightened through the registration of cases, he said.
“We are against death squads in the area”, he said, leveling serious allegations against the present caretaker government. He has already declared the caretaker government as the undertaker.
The participants of the long march arrived in Quetta on Sunday evening and the party leaders claimed that the long march was stopped at the main Sariab Road by the government. The charge was vehemently denied by the Balochistan Caretaker Information Minister, Jan Achakzai.
Mr. Achakzai has already suggested the BNP chief prioritize resolution of the land dispute in Wadh and avoid politicising the issue.