BNP-M faces crackdown as Akhtar Mengal risks arrest in Quetta

In Pakistan's Balochistan province, the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) has been holding a sit-in protest since the past 12 days, primarily focused on demanding the release of detained party members and addressing broader human rights issues in the region. The protest gained momentum as authorities took measures against the participants, including police using tear gas and shelling to disperse crowds in attempts to restrict the party's movement toward Quetta. The local government's warnings against entering the city, along with orders for a crackdown under the Maintenance of Public Order, have heightened tensions in the area. The BNP-M's chief, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, criticized the government's approach to negotiations, claiming that previous meetings with officials lacked decision-making authority. Despite ongoing dialogues with various political delegations, Mengal emphasized that their core demands remain unaddressed and that the party's message of resistance will continue. The situation is exacerbated by widespread road blockades and intermittent communication issues for citizens in the province. Local political leaders, including Sadiq Sanjrani, have attempted to mediate between the BNP-M and the Balochistan government, but there has been little to no progress towards resolving the impasse. A recent meeting with the BNP chief brought no substantial agreements, while members of the National Party prepare to meet with PML-N leaders to garner support for addressing Balochistan's crisis. Throughout the unrest, the Supreme Court Bar Association has also pressed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take action, highlighting the dire conditions under which fundamental rights are being ignored in Balochistan. In light of escalating violence and the murky security situation in the area, the need for dialogue and resolution is more urgent than ever as local communities bear the brunt of the ongoing conflict.