Quetta:

Balochistan National Party-Mengal (GDP-M) Chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal announced on Wednesday that he would reveal plans for fresh demonstrations on Thursday (today) when his ongoing protest against arrests of rights activists joined his sixth day.

His negotiations with a government delegation the previous day ended without a breakthrough. Mengal declared in a post of X that he would advertise the next phase of demonstrations at 1 p.m. 17 on April 3 (today).

“The delegation that visited us yesterday to negotiate our legitimate demands lacked authority to speak independently,” he said. “They were ‘messengers’ without power who ‘lies with those who really control this province’.”

He also warned the government that attempts to derail the movement through unimportant conversations would not succeed. “Tomorrow, April 3, 2025, 5pm, we will announce our next phase of demonstrations,” he repeated. “If they (the government) think they can distract us with these hollow negotiations, let it be clear: they are calculated again.”

Mengal also regretted the interruption of communication in Balochistan and called it an effort to stifle the dissent. “Since late last night, all cellular networks and WiFi in Balochistan have been shut down,” he wrote. “The sole purpose of this blackout is to dampen the oppressed votes.”

In addition, he accused the authorities of blocking senior PTI members who were on their way to participating in sit-in. “In response, trenches have been dug, several containers placed, and further forces that are deployed. Each trial the government does to wash away only ends up leaving it more tainted,” he said.

Press conference

A senior balochistani police officer on Wednesday raised questioned the legitimacy of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and claimed it is not a registered organization.

At a joint news conference held at Quetta’s Central Police Office, Quetta Deputy President Inspector of Police (DI) Aitzaz Goraya, the provincial government spokesman Shahid Rind and Quetta Deputy Commissioner Saad bin Asad spoke to the ongoing protests.

While the recognized BYC’s right to demonstrate, they claimed that vandalism and destruction of public property would not be tolerated.

“The attitude of the Balochistani Government has been very clear: Every political party or group has the right to protest peacefully as guaranteed by the constitution,” Rind said.

You Goraya told an incident at Civil Hospital and said BYC members attacked hospital staff and vandalized security cameras.

“BYC leaders and members went to the hospital to demand the bodies, but was told to bring the heirs,” he said. “BYC claimed they are the heirs and that they will remove the bodies. I leave it to you to answer the question of who bla’s [Balochistan Liberation Army] Heirs are. “

He also said that BYC was forcibly removing the bodies, damaging the hospital’s deathhouse and attacking both police officers and hospital staff.

“On one side [the BYC] Talk about human rights and on the other hand they own the bodies of terrorists, “Goraya said, adding that law enforcement captured them and restored the bodies.

The protesters who detailed the damage caused during the protests in Quetta revealed that protesters destroyed over 36 safe city cameras, 18 poles and hundreds of meters of fiber optic cables.

“In addition, the university’s gate was destroyed, a nearby post office was burned, and some protesters broke into a bank to steal money, but they were repelled,” he added.

He said that lawsuits have begun against those involved in vandalism and first information reports (FIRs) are registered.

“Everyone has the right to protest, but no one has the right to destroy public or private property or block the public’s right to road,” Goraya claimed. “If you want to protest, do it in front of the press club or DC’s office.”

He also revealed that the authorities had tried to negotiate with BYC, but the group was unwilling to participate in dialogue.

“No one was ready to listen. If they don’t want to listen and just make a tint and cry … According to the given legal procedures, the district administration had to act,” he said.

When asked about BYC’s legal status, Goraya asked, “Where is BYC registered?”

He elaborated that if the group was officially registered, they would have been bound by specific legal frameworks to implement their protests.

In response to another query, Rind admitted that Internet and cellular services had been suspended in Quetta due to security concerns. However, he reiterated that the government remained open to dialogue.

“Negotiations are in the process of [Balochistan National Party chief] Sardar Akhtar Mengal in connection with Mastung sit-in, ”he added.