Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has said that while peaceful protest is a constitutional right of every citizen, the authority to allow public assemblies lies with the government, and everyone must respect the constitutional framework.
He expressed these views during a meeting with Nawabzada Mir Israrullah Khan Zehri and Sardar Kamal Khan Bangulzai at the Chief Minister's Secretariat on Monday.
The two Baloch nationalist leaders called on the CM to pave the way for a negotiated settlement regarding the ongoing long march of BNP chief Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal.
The meeting focused on the ongoing protest by the Balochistan National Party (Mengal), as well as the overall political situation in the province.
CM Bugti briefed the two leaders on the government's political and administrative efforts to resolve the matter.
He revealed that three rounds of dialogue had already been held with BNP chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal.
"Out of the three demands presented by him, one has been accepted by the government," he said, adding that despite the government's serious efforts to reach a political resolution, the response from the other side remained non-cooperative, leading to a continued deadlock.
The chief minister, along with Zehri and Bangulzai, stressed the importance of joint efforts for lasting peace in Balochistan. They also agreed to continue political dialogue and engagement to address issues.
Meanwhile, a shutter-down strike was observed in various parts of Balochistan on the call of Balochistan National Party in solidarity with the BNP protest.
The BNP, led by Sardar Akhtar Mengal, has been staging a sit-in in the Lupas area of Quetta for over a week.
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