The Balochistan National Party (BNP) held protests in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan on Thursday against the raid on party leader Sardar Naseer Ahmed Musiyani’s home in Zehri, the killing of his son Khaleel Musiyani and Umair Sumalani, and the detention of his other sons and relatives.
In a statement, the BNP said demonstrations were held across the region against what it described as killings, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial arrests and the violation of the sanctity of homes.
The protest in Quetta was held outside the Quetta Press Club, where party leaders, workers and supporters gathered and chanted slogans.
Addressing the demonstration, BNP leaders said the party was a national democratic political organisation of Balochistan and had consistently raised its voice against enforced disappearances, military operations, human rights violations and the killing of civilians.
The speakers said Sardar Naseer Musiyani, a former district mayor of Khuzdar, had long pursued democratic politics and had remained an advocate of democratic struggle.
They alleged that state forces raided his home a day earlier, violated the sanctity of the house, beat him, killed his son Khaleel Musiyani and detained his other sons, close relatives and companions.
The speakers said the killing of Khaleel Musiyani and Umair Sumalani, along with the detention of others in connection with the Zehri incident, required a transparent investigation.
They demanded that those involved in the killings be identified and that the facts be brought before the public.
The BNP leaders said the party, under the leadership of Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal, had pursued national democratic politics but had also continued to speak on issues affecting Balochistan, including the non-recovery of missing persons and what they described as extrajudicial actions.
They accused the current “Form 47-imposed rulers” of failing to address the situation in Balochistan, saying targeted killings of Baloch and Pashtun youths and extrajudicial arrests had increased under the present administration.
The speakers said the situation in Balochistan had worsened because of policies imposed by the establishment, adding that the BNP would not remain silent over oppression and excesses.
They said women and children were also being detained and called for an immediate end to extrajudicial actions.
The BNP leaders alleged that Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal and other party leaders had been targeted in retaliatory actions, but said the party could not be subdued through pressure.
They called for an end to what they described as the “genocide of the Baloch people” and said the present rulers had failed and should resign on moral grounds.