Mengal to lead long march against detention of BYC leaders

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Balochistan National Party Mengal (BNP-M) chief Akhtar Mengal has announced to lead a long march on March 28 from Wadh to Quetta against the detention of BYC leaders.

Taking to his X handle, the BNP-M chief mentioned that he would lead long march, "which is against the arrest of our daughters and disrespect of our mothers and sisters."

He invited the Baloch community, including men, women, elders and youth to participate in the long march.

"It is not only the matter of our daughters' arrest but it is a question of our national dignity, our honour and out existence," tweeted Mengal, adding, 'We will not sit silent until our daughters, sisters and mothers are safe."

"Our movement is peaceful. We have come out against cruelty and persecution. We will not stop unless we get justice," maintained the BNP-M chief. "Our march from Quetta to Wadh is not a journey of steps but a travel of conscience. The time has come that we get united and raise a single voice," he added.

Earlier, several BYC protesters, including its chief organiser Mahrang Baloch, were taken into custody on Friday after protesters from Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) clashed with riots police, pelting armoured vehicles with stones and law enforcers responding by using tear gas, water cannons and blank shots on Sariab Road near the Balochistan University.

The BYC accused police of using "excessive force against protesters", including live fire, killing three people and injuring dozens. Provincial government spokesman Shahid Rind, however, refuted the allegations, stating that the protesters resorted to stone-pelting and unprovoked violence, injuring several police officers, including a female constable.

According to the government, the law enforcers acted in accordance with the law to clear a blocked national highway, while the BYC insisted that they used unnecessary force to suppress a peaceful demonstration.