Manan Mandokhail, Syed Ali Shah:Â
QUETTA:Â At least 14 people were injured in a firing incident in Mastung district, Balochistan, on Saturday. The incident occurred near Nawab Hotel, where supporters of the Baloch Yekjehti Committee (BYC) clashed with security forces.
Supporters of the BYC accused security forces of opening fire on their convoy.
In response to the Mastung incident, protesters blocked the main Quetta-Karachi highway, demanding justice. Authorities in Mastung halted the BYC convoy, leading to clashes when participants attempted to bypass barriers. Deputy Commissioner Mastung Syed Samiullah Agha reported that three Frontier Corps (FC) personnel were injured by stone-throwing, and security forces fired warning shots to disperse the crowd. Agha denied reports of direct firing, noting that minor injuries were sustained during a baton charge.
However, Shahid Rind, the spokesman for the Balochistan government, contradicted these reports. He announced that an inquiry would be conducted to investigate the incident and emphasized the government’s willingness to seek an amicable resolution to provincial issues. “We accept the right of protest by BYC,” Rind stated, while also asserting that it is the government’s responsibility to determine appropriate venues for protests. He stressed that no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands or incite hatred.
Police sources confirmed that the injured were taken to Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Raisani Hospital for treatment. A hospital spokesman reported that 14 injured individuals were admitted, with four in serious condition and transferred to Quetta for further medical care. An emergency was declared at the hospital to manage the influx of patients.
The incident has heightened tensions as the BYC prepares to hold the Baloch Raji Muchi in Gwadar. Mahrang Baloch is leading this gathering in the port city.
Meanwhile, the Baloch Solidarity Committee has rejected multiple government invitations for negotiations, insisting that their planned rally in Gwadar will proceed. This stance has caused significant traffic disruptions on provincial highways.
