Akhtar Mengal Criticizes State Policies at Quetta Sit-in Over Mangi Tragedy

Quetta: A sit-in protest by the families of police personnel killed in the Mangi terrorist attack in Ziarat, along with local residents, continued in Quetta, where demonstrators remained gathered with the bodies of the deceased at Kohla Phatak.

Addressing the protesters, Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal strongly criticized state policies, the justice system, and the government’s handling of security and governance issues in Balochistan.

Mengal questioned official claims that the situation in Balochistan is improving, asking why people continue to stage protests if conditions are stable. He argued that a state cannot function effectively if speaking the truth or demanding rights is treated as an offense.

He also expressed a lack of confidence in the judicial and investigative systems, calling for independent and transparent investigations into the Ziarat attack and other major incidents in the province. According to Mengal, accountability should follow such tragedies, noting that in many countries governments accept responsibility after serious security incidents.

The BNP leader criticized past security and administrative policies in Balochistan, including the merger of the Levies force into the police, claiming that such measures had failed to produce the desired results.

Mengal further alleged that successive governments have focused primarily on Balochistan’s natural resources—including gas and minerals—while neglecting the welfare and grievances of its people. He also referred to previous incidents of violence in the province, including the Civil Hospital Quetta attack, saying many victims and their families are still waiting for justice.

He added that while the families affected by the Mangi tragedy were able to recover the bodies of their loved ones, many families in Balochistan are still searching for missing relatives and continue to await answers about their fate.

Concluding his address, Mengal assured the protesters that the BNP would continue to support the victims and stand alongside them in any future course of peaceful protest they decide to pursue. The remarks reflect the BNP chief’s political views and criticism of the government’s policies regarding Balochistan.