BNP, PML(Q) lock horns over Balochistan political horse-trading

The Balochistan National Party (BNP) and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League -Qaumi (PML-Q) are locked in a political battle in Quetta, with representatives of the former accusing the latter of inflicting injuries to Mir Hassan Mengal, a BNP activist, in order to force him to join the PML (Q).

Islamabad, May 12 : The Balochistan National Party (BNP) and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League -Qaumi (PML-Q) are locked in a political battle in Quetta, with representatives of the former accusing the latter of inflicting injuries to Mir Hassan Mengal, a BNP activist, in order to force him to join the PML (Q).

Mir Akbar Mengal, a former Balochistan Assembly member, has accused the District Police Officer of Khuzdar of damaging Mir Hassan Mengal's kidneys at the behest of a federal state minister.

According to the Daily Times, both Mengals claimed that they were arrested in Gwadar on November 30 while trying to organise a long march, Lashkar-e-Balochistan, in protest against military operations in Balochistan.

According to Mir Akbar Mengal, "Mir Hassan was first taken to the Gadani Prison from where he was transferred and was listed as missing for more than four months."

He alleged that Mir Hassan Mengal had been held in a torture cell at an undisclosed location, and added that after a few months, Hassan had been shifted to the Anti Terrorism Force (ATF) prison in Quetta.

"Mir Hassan was delivered to the local police in Khuzdar at the behest of the federal minister and had been subjected to further torture to force him to join the ruling Pakistan Muslim League," he alleged.

The BNP leader says he resigned from the Balochistan Assembly last September to protest the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti.

ANI