A strike is being observed across Balochistan on the appeal of the Balochistan National Party (BNP) Mengal, while the BNP’s sit-in at Lukpas continues, as reported by national media on Monday.
According to a report, Section 144 has also been imposed in the district of Gwadar in Balochistan. The administration has made it clear that no individual or group will be allowed to hold a long march, and strict legal action will be taken against those violating Section 144.
On the other hand, despite the deadline of April 6 passing, the BNP’s long march towards Quetta could not proceed, and heavy law enforcement personnel have been deployed around the protest camp for the arrest of party leader Akhtar Mengal.
In light of the government’s measures to prevent the long march, Sardar Akhtar Mengal announced a shutter-down strike across the province today (Monday) and reiterated his commitment to continuing the sit-in at Lukpas on the outskirts of Quetta until his demands are met.
He instructed that until the government allows the marchers to enter Quetta, the sit-in at Lukpas will continue. The BNP president urged party workers and supporters to block all highways in the province and to hold sit-ins wherever security forces try to stop them.
It is noteworthy that the Balochistan government had made it clear that if BNP leader Sardar Akhtar Mengal marches towards Quetta, he will be arrested. Earlier, Balochistan government’s spokesperson Shahid Rand, while responding to the BNP’s long march, had stated that if Akhtar Mengal marches towards Quetta, he will face arrest.
