QUETTA: Police on Tuesday detained leaders of the Balochistan Grand Alliance, including Haji Shifa Mengal, when they arrived at the Quetta Press Club to hold a press conference.
According to reports, Haji Shifa Mengal and his associates were taken into custody before they could reach the press club. Police reportedly detained around a dozen members of the Grand Alliance, including Haji Shifa Mengal. The protests and subsequent law enforcement measures also led to suspension of mobile network services in parts of Quetta, causing serious inconvenience to residents.
Meanwhile, Balochistan National Party (BNP) Central Committee member and Quetta district president Ghulam Nabi Marri condemned the government’s actions. In a statement, he criticised the authorities for preventing Balochistan’s employees from exercising their constitutional and democratic right to peaceful protest in support of their demands. He urged the government to resolve employees’ issues through dialogue.
He alleged that police resorted to baton charge and shelling against protesters and barred them from holding a press conference at the Quetta Press Club to voice their concerns.
Marri demanded immediate release of all detained employees and called on the government to accept their legitimate demands through negotiations.
