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Demonstrations against Mengal’s detention: BNP office-bearer shifted to CMH

Staff Report

QUETTA: Habib Jalib, secretary general of the Balochistan National Party (BNP), was shifted from Loralai district jail to Quetta’s Combined Military Hospital (CMH) on Sunday, as province-wide demonstrations protested against the detention of BNP President Sardar Akhtar Mengal and several hundred party workers.

Sources said Jalib was brought to the Quetta hospital in the early hours of Sunday morning for immediate treatment on the directives of the Balochistan High Court. Jalib, a former senator, had asked the court to order the transfer because of his poor health. The CMH has been declared a sub-jail.

Jalib was arrested in November last year after the BNP called a “long march” to protest against the military operation in Balochistan, construction of cantonments and the disappearances in the province. The police had already rounded up the top BNP leadership, including its president, and several hundred party workers.

Meanwhile, protest rallies were staged across Balochistan on Sunday in front of press clubs against the arrest of the BNP leadership. The call for the rallies was given by an alliance of nationalist parties in Balochistan.

Workers of various parties staged a demonstration in front of the Quetta Press Club. The protestors shouted slogans against the government and criticised its Balochistan policy. They demanded an immediate halt to the military operation and release of political workers.

The same sort of demonstrations were staged in all Baloch-populated districts of the province.

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