Military courts: BNP chief says democratic system in a state of paralysis

Mengal criticises military courts and the volatile security situation in Balochistan

QUETTA: Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal has said the establishment of military courts has paralysed the democratic set-up in the country.

On Tuesday, the former chief minister arrived in Quetta after more than a year. “Then BNP opposed military courts and would continue to do so,” he said while addressing a news conference at his house. “Politicians of the country who claim to be champions of democracy have voted for the 18th amendment of the constitution. We opposed military courts since the very first day,” he remarked.



Mengal criticised enforced disappearances, mutilation of bodies, situation of law and order, condition of lady health workers and journalists in the province, questioning lack of security. “Now the bodies are being dumped in Pashtun areas of Balochistan also. The security situation in Balochistan is the same as it was during the regime of former military dictator General Musharraf.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 14^th, 2015.