Ali Hassan Zehri Accuses Akhtar Mengal of Anti-Pakistan Meetings, Warns of Possible Balochistan Operation

HUB: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Ali Hassan Zehri has strongly criticized Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal, making a series of serious allegations against him while addressing an Independence Day ceremony in Hub.

Referring to a speech by Akhtar Mengal played during the event, Zehri questioned how Mengal could label Baloch political figures as traitors. He alleged that Mengal received Rs40 billion related to Reko Diq while in Dubai and claimed that he had held meetings with people associated with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi against Pakistan. These allegations were made by Zehri in his speech and were not independently verified.

Zehri also alleged that Mengal lived in Dubai while encouraging the children of poor people to go to the mountains. He questioned who had provided vehicles for Mengal’s political gatherings and said Mengal should engage in politics but refrain from making what he described as baseless criticism of the PPP.

“The funeral of Akhtar Mengal’s party has already taken place, and he is now alone in his party,” Zehri claimed.

Zehri further warned Mengal to choose his words carefully when speaking about President Asif Ali Zardari. He described Zardari as a father, brother and benefactor of the PPP and said criticism against him would not be tolerated if it was based on unfounded allegations.

Commenting on national politics, Zehri claimed that President Asif Ali Zardari had been working tirelessly for the country and that major national decisions were being taken with his advice. He also claimed that after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif completes two and a half years, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would become prime minister for the remaining two and a half years.

Zehri praised the Pakistan Army and said the country would not get another army chief like General Syed Asim Munir. He said Pakistan’s armed forces were respected internationally and claimed that countries including Saudi Arabia and Qatar were seeking cooperation with Pakistan’s military.

Discussing the security situation in Balochistan, Zehri alleged that militants were entering the province from Afghanistan through the Nushki border and carrying out terrorist activities.

He said looting poor travelers and destroying bridges would not break Pakistan, adding that people living abroad were allegedly encouraging poor Baloch youth to fight.

Zehri called on those who had gone to the mountains to surrender and return to their communities, promising employment and educational opportunities for those who came back. He warned that if they did not surrender, a security operation in Balochistan would take place within two to three months.

“Pakistan exists, therefore Balochistan exists,” Zehri said.