QUETTA, Nov 29: At least hundred more leaders and workers of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) have been arrested from Makran and other areas of the province, party sources said on Wednesday.

Among those arrested are BNM-P senior vice-president Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldeni, deputy secretary-general Jehanzeb Baloch, member of the party’s central committee Prince Musa Jan, Arbab Gul Nawaz and former MPA Akhtar Hussain Lango.

According to the sources, the arrests of leaders and workers were made in raids conducted by police and the Anti-Terrorist Force in Panjgur, Nushki, Gwadar, Hub and many other areas on Wednesday.

“About 700 leaders and workers have so far been arrested from various areas after the party announced the launch of a long march from Gwadar to Quetta, starting on November 30,” central leader of BNP-M Rauf Mengal told Dawn.

Despite these arrests, a big public meeting would be held in Gwadar on November 30 against the killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, ongoing military operation and ‘extra-constitutional’ arrests of political leaders and activists.

The BNP-M leader warned that if the government tried to stop the long march, a province-wide, shutter-down call would be given and all national highways, linking Balochistan with rest of the country, would be blocked.

RAILWAY TRACKS DAMAGED: Rail traffic between Quetta and Zahidan was suspended on Wednesday after powerful explosions in Galangoor area damaged parts of the track.

Railways officials said that explosives fitted with timers had been planted at four places under the railway track between Nushki and Galangoor. The explosives went off on Wednesday morning damaging 22 feet of the track.

The officials said that repair work had been taken up, but it would take at least two days to restore the line for rail traffic.

The officials, however, said that passenger trains on the Quetta-Zahidan section would not be affected because the Pakistan Railways ran two passenger trains from Quetta to Taftan on a fortnightly basis.

However, goods trains between Quetta and Zahidan would be delayed.

Opinion

Editorial

System failure
Updated 12 Nov, 2024

System failure

Relevant institutions often treat right to internet connectivity with the same disdain as they do civil and political rights.
Narrowing the gap
12 Nov, 2024

Narrowing the gap

PERHAPS a pat on the back is in order for the ECP. Together with Nadra, it has made visible efforts to reduce...
Back on their feet
12 Nov, 2024

Back on their feet

A STIRRING comeback in the series has ended Pakistan’s 22-year wait for victory against world champions Australia....
Time to deliver
Updated 11 Nov, 2024

Time to deliver

Pakistan must display a serious commitment to climate change adaptation and mitigation at home.
Smaller government
11 Nov, 2024

Smaller government

THE IMF bailout programme has put the government under pressure to curtail its spending, especially current...
Unsafe inheritance
11 Nov, 2024

Unsafe inheritance

DESPITE regulations, the troubling practice of robbing women of their rightful inheritance — the culprits are ...