Balochistan National Party (BNP) chief Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal announced the end of the sit-in at Lakpass during a press conference held in Mastung.
While the sit-in has concluded, he made it clear that the protest movement will continue across the province.
Calling the Lakpass incident one that has deeply impacted all of Balochistan, Mengal criticized the government's heavy-handed response. "On March 28, the authorities blocked the Lakpass route from both sides, restricting people’s movement. All institutions erected barriers to stop our protest," he stated.
He further questioned the democratic credentials of the government, asking, "Is it a people's government when all routes are forcibly closed?"
Sardar Akhtar Mengal shared that several delegations visited the protest site and expressed their helplessness. "We called an All Parties Conference (APC), offered our suggestions, and yet nothing meaningful was done," he added.
Condemning the extrajudicial arrests of women, he announced a long march in response. “This movement will not stop here. Our struggle is for justice,” Mengal declared.
He thanked the elders and supporters who stood with them throughout the 20-day protest under harsh conditions, saying, "Despite the dangers and isolation, the people’s participation remained unwavering."
Referring to the broader political environment, Mengal stated, "The intelligence agencies that help form governments with 47 seats never want the issues of Balochistan to be resolved. Our youth are being torn apart, and no good can be expected from such a system."
He accused the state of plundering Balochistan’s resources, likening it to a “witch devouring everything in sight.”
Mengal concluded by warning that if the government continues to deny space for democratic protests, the resistance will adopt other forms. "We protested peacefully in the past. If they won't allow that, then our movement will take another shape."
He also announced that protest rallies will now be held across Balochistan in the coming days.
