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BNP-M’s Long March Faces Roadblocks as Talks With Government Remain Deadlocked
Sardar Akhtar Mengal demands the release of all BYC prisoners, including women, or the right to peacefully march to Quetta. Talks with the government remain deadlocked as authorities shut down highways and mobile networks. Will the government listen?
ND
by News Desk
2025-04-03
BNP-M’s Long March Faces Roadblocks as Talks With Government Remain Deadlocked

The Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) has vowed to continue its long march towards Quetta, demanding the release of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) leaders and activists, including Dr Mahrang Baloch and Sammi Deen Baloch. The march was announced last Friday after police cracked down on a sit-in in Quetta. Sammi Deen Baloch has since been released, but BNP-M continues to push for the release of all detainees.

Stalemate in Government Talks

BNP-M Chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal addressed the ongoing sit-in at Lakpass, attended by political and tribal leaders, as well as the families of missing persons. He outlined three non-negotiable demands to the provincial government:

  1. Release all detained BYC activists and women.
  2. Allow the protesters to march peacefully to Quetta for a sit-in.
  3. Arrest BNP-M leadership if the government refuses the first two demands.

Mengal emphasized that the BNP-M delegation has made its stance clear since day one and that the deadlock continues despite multiple rounds of talks with government officials. The delegation, led by Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, Bakht Muhammad Kakar, Ubaidullah Gorgage, Additional Home Chief Secretary Zahid Saleem, and the Kalat Commissioner, has asked for more time for consultation—a deadline that ends tonight.

Mengal warned, “If all prisoners, including women, are not released, we will march towards Quetta.”

Government Road Closures and Internet Shutdowns

BNP-M central leader and former senator criticized the government’s handling of the situation, accusing it of incompetence. He stated that the government has blocked all major and minor highways leading to Quetta, including:

  • Lakpass Tunnel
  • Mastung National Highway
  • Kolpur Road

This blockade has cut off Quetta’s land connection with 12 districts of Balochistan for the past seven days. The administration has dug ditches on key roads to prevent protesters from advancing.

Additionally, the shutdown of mobile networks and internet services in Quetta has caused severe inconvenience for locals. Protesters believe that the communication blackout is an attempt to suppress the movement and prevent news from reaching the outside world.

Growing Support for BNP-M’s Protest

Despite government restrictions, the number of participants in the sit-in has increased instead of decreasing, as more people join the movement to demand the recovery of their missing loved ones.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its ally Sunni Ittehad Council have also expressed solidarity with BNP-M, putting further pressure on the government.

BNP-M leaders remain hopeful that Mengal will succeed in securing the release of Baloch women and children and continue his peaceful struggle for the rights of missing persons in Balochistan.

As the deadline for talks nears, all eyes are on the government’s next move. Will it engage in meaningful dialogue or continue its crackdown?
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