QUETTA (HRNW) — Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal has responded to the Prime Minister’s remarks on Balochistan, saying that successive governments have acknowledged past injustices against the province but have failed to take meaningful practical steps to address them.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Mengal said the Prime Minister was correct in saying that Balochistan’s problems cannot be solved through guns and that dialogue is the way forward. However, he questioned whether the use of state force could ever resolve political and public grievances.
Questions Over Alleged Abuses in Balochistan
Mengal said previous governments had also acknowledged alleged injustices in Balochistan and, at times, offered apologies, but questioned what the people of the province had received in return.
He referred to allegations concerning mutilated bodies, grieving mothers, orphaned children, destroyed or burned villages and the arrests of women and children, asking what justice had been delivered to the people of Balochistan.
The BNP leader also raised questions about the province’s coastline and natural resources, asking what justice had been provided to Balochistan beyond what he described as the exploitation of its resources and coast.
State Force and Political Resolution
Addressing the Prime Minister, Mengal questioned whether artillery, tanks, fighter jets and gunship helicopters could provide a solution to Balochistan’s longstanding problems if guns themselves could not resolve them.
He questioned whether the government believes that the use of military force can address the political and social grievances of the people of Balochistan.
Mengal further said that the Prime Minister may not be able to answer these questions at present, but suggested that history would ask the same questions if he ever moved into opposition.
Human Rights and Political Dialogue
The remarks highlight longstanding concerns surrounding human rights, civilian protection, political representation and the rule of law in Balochistan. A sustainable resolution requires credible and impartial investigations into allegations of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial actions, arbitrary arrests and other human rights violations, while ensuring accountability where wrongdoing is established.
Meaningful political dialogue, access to justice and respect for the fundamental rights of all citizens are essential to addressing grievances and building lasting peace.
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Disclaimer: This report has been prepared based on Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal’s social media statement and the information provided. Some allegations and claims contained in his statement have not been independently verified by HRNW. The report may be updated if an official response from the Prime Minister or relevant authorities becomes available.
