Balochistan already under army control, says Mengal

Published
6

Akhtar-Mengal-670
Akhtar Mengal speaking to media representatives in Islamabad. — File photo

KARACHI, Jan 14: Former Balochistan chief minister Akhtar Mengal has said governor’s rule will not have a positive effect on the situation in the province because it has already been under the control of the army.

According to the BBC Urdu website, the Balochistan National Party - M chief said when veteran Baloch nationalist Nawab Akbar Bugti could be traced and killed in the mountains one would ask why the terrorists involved in sectarian killings could not be reached.

“No safe haven of terrorists is hidden from intelligence agencies. The army and intelligence agencies are responsible for all ills,” he said, adding that although the provincial government was incompetent, governor’s rule was no solution to Balochistan’s problems.

It was a superficial change and the situation would be the same as before, he said.

Mr Mengal said not a single member of terrorist organisations had been arrested over the past five years. The bullet-riddle bodies of Baloch activists were found dumped in different parts of the province, but terrorists were not arrested and produced before courts, he added.

He accused the elements opposed to democracy of being behind the crisis. — Dawn Monitor

Opinion

Editorial

Swat bombing
Updated 04 Aug, 2026

Swat bombing

IT is a bitter irony that terrorists struck a protest against violence in Swat on Sunday, causing at least 17...
Tariff blow
04 Aug, 2026

Tariff blow

FOR an export sector already squeezed by high production costs, the additional 10pc tariff on top of the existing...
Perilous peaks
04 Aug, 2026

Perilous peaks

THE deaths of 10 climbers in an avalanche on Broad Peak is a sad reminder of the perils that many mountaineers face...
Farewell to arms?
Updated 03 Aug, 2026

Farewell to arms?

PALESTINIAN resistance group Hamas recently made a major concession by agreeing to give up its weapons. It should be...
Unplanned future
03 Aug, 2026

Unplanned future

A PROJECTION that Pakistan’s population could reach 400m by 2040 should not be treated as another dramatic number...
No more torture
03 Aug, 2026

No more torture

EVEN the best laws on the books are worth little unless the state shows the willingness to enforce them. This is...