ISLAMABAD:
Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Mian Rauf Atta has urged the federal and provincial governments to form a fully empowered committee to hold negotiations with Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) chief Akhtar Mengal.
Last Friday, the BNP-M announced a long march from Wadh to Quetta to protest against the arrests of Baloch Yakjehti Committee leaders and activists, including Dr Mahrang Baloch and Sammi Deen Baloch, as well as the police crackdown on their sit-in in Quetta. Sammi was released on Tuesday.
An official statement was issued regarding the meeting between SCBA president and BNP-M chief, which took place in a remote location in Mastung district.
According to the SCBA statement, BNP-M, which is engaged in a protest movement, presented its stance, asserting that their struggle and protest are constitutionally justified.
During the meeting, Mengal disclosed that a committee from the Balochistan government had approached him. In response, the BNP-M laid out three key demands, including release of all detainees held under MPO and withdrawal of the related notification, as done by the Sindh government.
The BNP-M sought permission to hold protests or sit-ins within a designated area which fell within the Red Zone. It further stated that if these demands are not met, BNP-M’s entire leadership was prepared to court arrest.
According to the statement, the BNP-M clarified that if their demands were not fulfilled within a day or two, they would proceed with their planned protest march towards the Red Zone.
The SCBA president reaffirmed that the right to peaceful assembly, protest, freedom of expression, and movement are fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
The statement further noted that both sides agreed that dialogue, negotiations, and democratic processes are the only viable solutions to BNP-M’s concerns and the broader issues of Balochistan.
Separately, the SCBA president met with former Balochistan chief minister Dr Abdul Malik to discuss the province’s pressing issues. Senator Mir Kabir Muhammad Shahi was also present during the meeting.
According to an SCBA statement, the meeting was held in the context of efforts to unite all national political parties in addressing Balochistan’s ongoing challenges. The discussions focused on formulating a long-term solution to the province’s issues.
Both sides agreed that border management and equitable distribution of resources are critical provincial matters. However, they emphasized that these concerns should not take precedence over public safety and the well-being of Balochistan’s citizens.
The statement expressed concerns over the “lack of seriousness displayed by mainstream political parties” regarding Balochistan’s issues.
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