Mengal blasts PPP for arresting women in Balochistan

Sardar Akhtar Mengal, chief of his faction of the BNP-M, on Friday lashed out at the PPP for arresting women in Balochistan, saying that even under Portuguese and British colonial rule or during martial law regimes, women were never taken into custody.

He expressed these views during a public gathering held in Gwadar, where a large number of people, including women, children and the elderly, were present.

"We are not here for political point scoring, but to raise our voice for the rights that have been denied to Balochistan," he said while addressing the crowd.

Sardar Mengal said they are not afraid of being arrested, as their workers and colleagues have been detained during multiple authoritarian regimes. "We were arrested whether it was the dictatorship of General Ayub Khan or the era of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto," he added.

He lamented that the PPP has always targeted Baloch youth, citing examples such as the Lyari gang war and the 1973 military operation in Balochistan.

"They still say 'Bhutto Zinda Hai' - thank God he is not [alive], otherwise no home in Balochistan would have been spared," he said.

He alleged that the very foundation of the PPP is built on the blood of Baloch youth.

Questioning the state institutions, he said that courts can open at midnight to topple a government, but cannot listen to the grievances of the people of Balochistan.

He added that Parliament can convene to pass a bill, but there is no room to hear the miseries of the Baloch people.

"The state labels every voice raised against the atrocities in Balochistan as a terrorist. Today, Mahrang and Bebow are being labelled terrorists. Tomorrow, I too will be called one," he said.

He said that despite having the latest technology, arms, and nuclear weapons, the state is afraid of Mahrang.