For the past month, Tehsil Wadh in Khuzdar has been engulfed in escalating tensions. The conflict involves the Mengal clan chief, Asad Mengal, the Balochistan National Party chief, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, and the rival faction led by Shafiq Mengal, who are openly engaging in armed clashes with heavy weaponry. As a result of these intense confrontations, the people of Wadh are trapped, and the Quetta-Karachi highway has been completely blocked for vehicular traffic at the location.
The Balochistan National Party has leveled accusations against Shafiq Mengal, claiming that he is working to weaken Sardar Akhtar Mengal with the backing of intelligence agencies. In response, the BNP has initiated widespread protests, including a wheel jam and shutter down strike across Balochistan, in opposition to Shafiq Mengal’s actions. Despite the efforts of the Balochistan government and tribal elders, the tension in Wadh continues to escalate, and Sardar Akhtar Mengal’s residence in Kot Mengal has become a target for rocket attacks.
Political parties in Balochistan have long accused Pakistani agencies of forming death squads across the region since 2008, ostensibly to counter the Baloch insurgency. These death squads are allegedly involved in the enforced disappearance and killing of numerous political activists. Shafiq Mengal has been linked to one such death squad, known as Musalah Diffa Tanzeem and Haq Na Tawar, which is reported to hold significant power, even rivaling state institutions in Kalat Division and Khuzdar.
The allegations against Shafiq Mengal’s group include kidnapping for ransom, enforced disappearances, and murders. They were also implicated in an incident where they killed nine Levies personnel during a confrontation. Moreover, according to a JIT report from Sindh Police, Shafiq Mengal has connections to Lashkar Jhangvi and the Shikarpur attack, which resulted in the deaths of sixty people. The suicide bomber responsible for the attack found refuge in Wadh and was escorted to Shikarpur by Shafiq Mengal’s associates.
Various political parties in Balochistan have expressed their concerns over the existence and actions of these death squads in Pakistan’s parliament and during protests. However, it is challenging to effectively combat the death squads in Balochistan until political parties cease providing shelter to such groups within their ranks. Whether it’s Kohi Khan Mengal and Qamber Khan Mengal in Kalat, Ali Haider Muhammad Hasni in Mashkay, Noor Ahmed Bangalzai in Mastung and Quetta, or Rashid Pattan and Mir Hothman in Ketch, opposing death squads in one region while harboring them in another will not lead to their elimination. To tackle this issue, all parliamentary parties must unite against state-sponsored death squads without discrimination, paving the way for a more organized movement against the menace in Balochistan.
It is crucial for state institutions to recognize that political movements cannot be eradicated through death squads. Resolving the issues in Balochistan necessitates acknowledging and addressing the legitimate demands of Baloch people for their national rights. Only through a comprehensive approach can lasting peace and prosperity be achieved in the region.