BNP-M calls Balochistan shutdown on 30th

ATC grants five-day remand of BNP-M leaders

QUETTA:

Balochistan National Party Mengal (BNP-M) leader Agha Hassan Baloch has announced a series of protests across Balochistan, starting with a province-wide shutter-down strike on Oct 30.

The strike will be followed by a wheel-jam strike on national highways on Nov 2.

Baloch emphasized that the BNP's protests would be non-violent, voicing the party's stance against alleged injustices and discrimination affecting people of Balochistan.

Speaking at a press conference, Agha Hassan condemned recent terrorism-related FIRs filed against BNP leaders, including Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Akhtar Hussain Langove, Ahmed Nawaz Baloch and others in Islamabad.

He criticized the government for equating expressions of ideas with terrorism, asking, "Is a press conference or voicing concerns terrorism?" He further highlighted grievances related to the alleged listing of thousands of Baloch youth in the Fourth Schedule, blocking of ID cards and SIM cards, leading to severe tension within the province. Baloch also expressed dismay over what he described as "worst" governance.

Meanwhile, Anti-Terrorism Court has granted five-day physical remand of BNP-M leaders Akhtar Hussain Langove and Shafi Muhammad in a Parliament House riot case.

During the hearing, defence counsel Iman Mazari argued that her clients had a charge of trespassing in the Senate lobby along with weapons; however, it was not disclosed that who was carrying what kind of weapon. The defence lawyer requested the court to discharge the case against the accused as it was based on political vengeance.

On the other hand, prosecutor Raja Navaid submitted it has yet to be investigated that why the accused wanted to enter the Senate. He said the accused are nominated in the FIR and requested the court to send them on 25-day physical remand. After the arguments, the court approved 5-day physical remand of the accused. (Additional input from our Islamabad correspondent)