Bitter words: Mengal says Balochistan ‘turned into graveyard’

The Express Tribune

Balochistan National Party-Mengal President Sardar Akhtar Mengal on Tuesday expressed grave concerns over the security situation in Balochistan as he called the province a ‘graveyard’. “Balochistan has become a graveyard as the situation has gone from bad to worst over the past few years. There are grave diggers and mourners as far as I can see. I do not see a single happy person in my province,” Mengal said in a statement. “I view the rulers in the province as grave diggers…they are not interested in political issues of the province. They are busy in digging more graves,” the former chief minister added. He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had also forgotten the promises he made when he was sitting in opposition benches. “The rulers have always suppressed the peaceful struggle of the Baloch people and never gave peace a chance. On the other hand, the government is deeply interested in negotiations with the Taliban.” Mengal said Balochistan had always been treated as an occupied territory and Baloch people were treated as traitors, adding that the Balochistan government was only trying to control the natural resources of the province. Mengal, who remained in self-exile for four years, said that the Balochistan chief minister has himself admitted that there are a number of places in the province where there is no writ of the government. “What could be worse than the kidnapping of the deputy commissioner and assistant commissioner? I do not see any improvement in Balochistan,” he added.