QUETTA: Senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and tribal elder Mir Shafiqur Rehman Mengal on Saturday accused senior police officials of failing to respond to a deadly militant attack on his residence in Wadh and alleged that some of the attackers used a nearby police facility as cover during the assault.
Addressing a press conference at his residence, the PPP leader said around 12 heavily armed militants stormed his home on July 8, violating the sanctity of Baloch traditions and the privacy of his household. He claimed that he and his supporters repelled the attack after an intense gun battle, preventing the assailants from achieving their objective.
According to Mengal, the attack began when a suicide bomber detonated explosives at the main gate, killing 17 of his supporters. He said his armed guards and tribesmen immediately engaged the attackers, killing several militants in a fierce exchange of fire that lasted about 40 minutes, while sporadic fighting continued for more than three hours before the assailants were forced to retreat.
He said video footage recorded during the clash showed militants fleeing the scene and claimed it was the first time suicide attackers had been forced to abandon their operation. He added that CCTV footage would be released to support his account of the incident.
Mengal levelled serious allegations against police officials, claiming that militants entered the nearby police lines, positioned themselves behind its walls and even fired from the rooftops during the attack. He alleged that police officers stationed only a short distance from his residence failed to intervene despite the prolonged gun battle.
Holding the Khuzdar Range deputy inspector general, senior superintendent of police and other officers responsible, Mengal demanded immediate action against them. He warned that if the provincial government failed to investigate the allegations, it would share responsibility for what he described as a grave security failure.
He also questioned the effectiveness of merging the Levies Force into the police if law enforcement agencies were unable to confront militants during such attacks.
Reaffirming his commitment to Pakistan and the PPP, Mengal said his family and supporters had always defended the country’s ideology and made sacrifices against militancy. He thanked President Asif Ali Zardari and Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti for remaining in contact after the attack, but criticised the provincial Home Department for what he called an unsatisfactory response.
Mengal further accused India-backed militants of targeting civilians, violating Islamic and Baloch traditions by using women and children as shields during the assault. He also criticised nationalist parties, alleging that their past policies had contributed to the deteriorating security situation in Balochistan.
Several PPP leaders, tribal elders and local political figures attended the press conference in solidarity with Mengal.
