MASTUNG: A suicide bomber allegedly tried to attack a Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) rally near Lak Pass area in Mastung, the police said .
The police have said that the suicide blast occurred when a volunteer stopped a suspicious individual near the BNP-M protest who then blew himself up during the search. The extent of the damage are being assessed, said the authorities.
The blast seemingly targeted BNP-M protest led by Member National Assembly (MNA) Akhtar Mengal — who is leading a long march against the crackdown on BYC activists.
The party has said that their march has been prevented from proceeding to Quetta and Mengal would announce the next course of action in a press conference later in the day.
Till then, the party added, their sit-in would continue at Lak Pass till their demands were met.
Meanwhile, Balochistan government spokesperson, Shahid Rind, confirmed that BNP-M chief Mengal, along with the party’s leadership and protest participants, remained unharmed in the attack.
According to the Balochistan government spokesperson, the suspected suicide bomber detonated himself near the site.
The Balochistan government had been in contact with BNP leadership since last night to ensure their safety, he said, urging the party to remain peaceful and warning that hostile elements might seek to exploit the situation.
A BNP-M delegation had met with the administration the previous night, while a government delegation also agreed to meet Mengal today. The government urged Mengal and his party members to cooperate with authorities, emphasising that dialogue would help improve the situation.
The spokesperson added that the sit-in near Lak Pass had been halted the previous day, and communication between the government and Mengal’s party had taken place in the vicinity. Government representatives remain in contact with Mengal and his party leadership today as well.
