Rift deepens between Mengal factions

Minister visits Wadh to defuse tensions between rivals

QUETTA:

Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove has vowed to take action against elements involved in acts of extortion and kidnapping in Khuzdar district of the province.

On Thursday he visited Wadh and met the Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal.

Home minister’s visit has come after widespread tension developed in Wadh between two branches of Mengal tribe.

“The elements involved in acts of kidnapping and extortion would be arrested and punished,” Langove said.

It may be mentioned here that the Mengal tribe is divided into two powerful rival factions who accused each other of kidnappings.

Deputy inspector general police Khuzdar, Commissioner Kalat Division, Dawood Khilji and other high level officials received the home minister on his arrival.

A tribal Jirga led by the former provincial minister, Sardar Aslam Bizenjo, Senator Maulavi Faiz Muhammad and former member national assembly, Maulana Qamar Uddin also called on Sardar Akhtar Mengal, the Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief, to bring to an end tribal tension in the area.

The home minister assured that none would be allowed to take law into his hands and that the writ of the state would be ensured at all costs.

“Nobody is above the law and those who would take law into their own hands would be punished as per the law,” Langove said, adding that the provincial government was making efforts to avert any untoward incident and for this purpose he was in Khuzdar district to find a settlement between the two groups.

The home minister directed police and levies to take action against the elements involved in acts of kidnapping and extortion on Quetta-Karachi highway.

He said the closure of the highway would not be allowed and the administration would ensure smooth flow of traffic.

The tribal Jirga also met Mir Shafiq Mengal, the chief of Jhalawan Panel, and underlined the need for talks to end the tribal deadlock.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2023.