Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) President Sardar Akhtar Mengal and his supporters remained unharmed after a suicide bomber detonated near their rally in Mastung on Saturday. The explosion, which occurred as the rally was en route to Quetta, resulted in no reported fatalities.
Mengal had organized a long march from Wadh to Quetta to protest the arrests of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) chief organizer Dr. Mahrang Baloch and other activists, as well as police crackdowns on demonstrations. However, the Quetta administration denied BNP-M permission to proceed with the rally.
As the march progressed, BNP-M reported that over 250 of its activists had been detained by security forces near Mastung. Around 1 PM, a blast was reported near the rally, but Mengal confirmed on social media that he and all party workers were safe. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind also stated that there were no casualties.
According to Mastung Assistant Commissioner Akram Harifal, Levies personnel at Luck Pass attempted to stop a suspicious individual, who then detonated explosives. Security was immediately heightened at the rally site.
Later, while addressing supporters in Mastung, Mengal claimed that four participants were injured in the explosion. He asserted that his party faced no threats from any group except the state and vowed to continue the protest peacefully. He reiterated his demand for the release of detained women activists, even offering himself in exchange.
BNP-M accused security forces of tear gas shelling and opening fire on the march, leading to injuries and further arrests. Meanwhile, the Quetta administration rejected BNP-M’s request for a rally permit, citing a security threat and a provincial ban on large gatherings. It warned that legal action would be taken if the march continued.
