Balochistan party calls for province-wide strike as Pakistani authorities block protest march

A regional opposition party in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province called for a shutter-down strike on Monday after security forces prevented their protest march from reaching Quetta, the provincial capital, prompting supporters to block key roads leading to the provincial capital.

Members of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) barricaded major thoroughfares in Quetta on Sunday, including Sariab Road, Qambrani Road and Kechi Baig, after party leader Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal announced the strike when his march was halted in District Mastung.

"Dozens of party workers were detained by the police," Mengal told NuktaSunday evening. "We will continue our protest until Mahrang Baloch and other detained activists are released."

Deputy Commissioner of Quetta, Saad Bin Asad, confirmed to Nukta that 62 protesters have been detained since Sunday morning for blocking roads and pelting stones at police.

The protest caravan, which began last week in the southern town of Wadh, had reached Lakpass — approximately 30 kilometers from Quetta — before being intercepted by security forces on Saturday.

BNP-M announces province-wide strike

The BNP-M's senior leadership called for a province-wide shutdown and road blockades for Monday, April 7, expanding protests against what they characterize as government suppression.

BNP-M Senior Vice President Sajid Tareen announced the escalation during a Sunday press conference in Quetta, joined by representatives from the Awami National Party and Jamhoori Watan Party.

The protest aims to oppose what Tareen described as "government brutalities, firing and shelling against unarmed protesters."

He stated that a comprehensive plan for continued demonstrations would be revealed Monday after consultations with allied political parties, while expressing concerns about his potential arrest.

"The rulers want to put the people on the path of hatred under a conspiracy," Tareen alleged.

‘Major operation imminent’

“We are currently stationed at Lakpass, completely encircled by security forces,” Mengal posted on X early Sunday morning.

“A major operation against us is imminent. I call upon all districts to immediately shut down all national highways in protest. Let the world witness this injustice. We remain peaceful, but resolute. Whatever unfolds today—the consequences, the blood, the fallout—will rest solely on the shoulders of the government and the local administration.”

BNP-M leaders have said their route has been blocked for days, with roads dug up and the provincial capital effectively cut off from at least 12 districts.

Senior BNP-M leader Sanaullah Baloch told Nukta Sunday morning that “hundreds of our supporters and workers were gathered in Lakpass since morning,” adding that the police blocked the first group of marchers led by party president Sardar Akhtar Mengal.

“Senior police officials told us that they were strictly directed by the government to stop this march from moving to Quetta,” Baloch said. “We would keep our attempt to peacefully march but if the government doesn't allow us today, we would share our plan in the evening.”

Mahrang Baloch's arrest

The long march is primarily aimed at pressing the Balochistan government to release Dr Mahrang Baloch, a rights activist and leading figure in the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), who was arrested on March 22. Protesters are also demanding that they be allowed to complete their march to Quetta.

The BYC is a prominent human rights organization that advocates for the rights of the Baloch people in Pakistan. Founded to address issues of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and political marginalization in Balochistan province, the BYC has gained significant support for its peaceful activism and advocacy work.

Baloch was arrested during a pre-dawn police raid on a sit-in protest outside the University of Balochistan in Quetta. Three protesters were killed during the confrontation, with authorities and demonstrators blaming each other for the deaths.

Baloch, who was demanding the release of detained supporters, was charged with terrorism, sedition, and murder, prompting the UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders to express serious concern over her detention.

Earlier, the provincial administration deployed additional forces to Lakpass on Saturday. BNP-M leaders accused authorities of surrounding the area with troops in an effort to prevent the protest from gaining momentum.

Regional tensions

The protests have drawn attention to long-standing tensions in the province, where separatist movements and human rights concerns have persisted for decades.

Reports have also surfaced of a communication blackout in Balochistan, with mobile networks and home WiFi services being disrupted.

On Saturday, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind warned demonstrators to stay away from Quetta’s Red Zone, saying the government would not tolerate any violation of Section 144, a law that restricts gatherings in certain areas.

Rind said the government had engaged in two rounds of talks with BNP-M leaders but did not elaborate on the outcome. He warned of “strict action” if protesters attempted to breach the Red Zone, home to key government buildings.

Despite multiple attempts, government officials did not respond to requests for comment on the status of the march.

With additional information from Saadullah Akhter.