Suicide attack near opposition's protest in Pakistan's Balochistan

A protest organized by an opposition party in Pakistan’s Balochistan province came under attack on Saturday when a suicide bomber detonated himself near the stage where party leaders were present.

Security personnel intercepted the attacker before he could get close to the Balochistan National Party-Mengal's (BNP-M) leadership. The blast reportedly injured several BNP workers. However, no serious casualties were reported among the demonstrators.

The BNP, led by Sardar Akhtar Mengal, began a 'long march' from Wadh to Quetta on Friday, to demand the release of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) chief organizer Dr. Mahrang Baloch and other detained activists and to protest police crackdowns on sit-ins organized by the BYC.

"A failed attempt to make our protest unsuccessful once again. Alhamdulillah, I’m safe with all party workers," Mengal wrote on X following the report of the blast.

Sardar Akhtar Mengal confirmed on X that no casualties were reported in the suicide blast.Twitter/@sakhtarmengal

According to security officials, the blast occurred some distance from the BNP sit-in site. Eyewitnesses reported that the bomber tried to approach the protest stage but was stopped by Mengal’s guards, who escorted him away before he detonated the explosives.

Addressing supporters in Mastung later, Mengal claimed that four participants in the rally were injured in the blast. He accused the government of attempting to escalate tensions but vowed that the protest would “continue peacefully”. Responding to the government’s offer for talks, he reiterated his demand for the release of BYC leaders and supporters.

He urged the authorities to "release the arrested women" if they wanted the demonstration to end. "I am willing to give my arrest", he said, in return for the release of the women.

Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed that all BNP leaders, including Mengal, were unharmed. He said provincial authorities had been in contact with the BNP leadership since Friday night.

“A BNP delegation met with the administration last night, and a government delegation is scheduled to meet Sardar Akhtar Mengal today,” Rind said, adding that an official inquiry into the attack is underway.

Opposition parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and various Baloch political groups, supported the BNP’s long march and urged the government to address its demands.

Police crackdown

In an X post earlier today, BNP-M claimed that more than 250 of its workers had been arrested, while “dozens have sustained injuries due to the actions of the security forces” near Mastung’s Luck Pass.

The party accused law enforcement of using “intense tear gas shelling” against the protesters and said that its march had been halted at Luck Pass due to road blockades set up using shipping containers.

“My party’s senior leadership is being directly shelled at and fired upon,” Mengal alleged in a post on X.

Sardar Akhtar Mengal alleges that the party leadership has been fired upon.Twitter/@sakhtarmengal

He appealed to the people of Mastung and Quetta to gather on their respective sides of the crossing.

“We will move ahead towards our goal, even if we have to dig a new tunnel,” the senior politician vowed. “We are strong and committed to our cause, and above all, we are peaceful. Any force or coercion cannot shake our courage or turn us away from our path.”

Baloch activists arrested

Last week, Pakistani authorities detained Dr. Mahrang Baloch, a prominent Baloch rights activist, for leading a sit-in in southwestern Balochistan.

Dr. Mahrang has been charged with terrorism, sedition, and murder after three protestors died at a demonstration in Quetta. The police claimed the deaths occurred due to the protesters' violence, while the latter claimed the law enforcement opened fire at them.

The protest erupted when members of the BYC forcibly took possession of five bodies from Civil Hospital, which the state authorities claimed belonged to militants responsible for the recent Jaffer Express attack. However, protesters alleged they were missing persons who had been killed in staged encounters by security forces.

In a further escalation, authorities on Monday arrested another female Baloch rights activist, Sammi Deen Baloch, along with several others, from outside the Karachi Press Club as they demonstrated against the crackdown in Quetta.

Pakistan’s authorities have vowed to crack down on the growing separatist insurgency in Balochistan, blaming the 'terrorism' on the country's eastern neighbor, India, and northwestern neighbor Afghanistan. It blames the Afghan Taliban for giving refuge to insurgents —a charge denied by them.