Top Baloch leader, workers escape unhurt as suicide bomber blows himself up near protest site in Pakistan

Karachi, Mar 29 (PTI) A top Baloch nationalist leader and other workers of his party escaped unhurt when a suicide bomber blew himself up near their sit-in protest in Balochistan province of Pakistan on Saturday.

Sardar Akhtar Mengal has been leading a long march from Wadh to Quetta since Friday to protest the arrests of the leaders and workers of the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), whose chief Dr Mahrang Baloch was arrested under anti-terrorism laws.

The suicide bomber blew himself up near their sit-in protest near Lucky Pass in Mastung, about 50 kilometre south of Quetta, in Balochistan province but Mengal and others escaped unhurt.

Mastung Assistant Commissioner (AC) Akram Harifal told the media that Levies personnel had spotted a suspicious individual near the rally and when they went to question him, he tried to escape but blew himself up.

Established in the late 19th century, the Levies Force is a local community police force.

“The participants of the protest by the Balochistan National Party (BNP) are unhurt and okay,” he said.

Mahrang Baloch and other BYC members were all arrested earlier this month from Quetta from a sit-in. They have been holding protest rallies for missing Baloch persons and alleged injustices meted out to Balochistan.

Harifal said since the government had granted permission for the BNP long march, it was providing security and investigations are being held into the presence of the suicide bomber near the rally.