Sardar Akhtar Mengal’s Stark Warning on Balochistan: “Province Has Become a No-Go Area, Media Silent – Where Is the Interior Minister’s SHO?”

Sardar Akhtar Mengal, President of the Balochistan National Party (Mengal) and former Chief Minister of Balochistan, has issued a grave statement describing the current security and political situation in Balochistan as “extremely alarming” and declaring that the province has effectively turned into a “no-go area.”
In remarks widely circulated on social media and local news platforms, Sardar Mengal said:
“I have never seen the situation this dangerous in my entire life. Media houses are completely silent. Can the Interior Minister please explain – where are his SHOs?”
The statement comes amid escalating violence, enforced disappearances, targeted killings, and growing alienation in the province. Sardar Mengal has previously described Balochistan as a “colony” and repeatedly criticized federal policies, asserting that large parts of the province remain outside effective government control.
His reference to the absence of Station House Officers (SHOs) – the local police station in-charges – highlights the perceived collapse of routine law enforcement in many districts, where security forces and insurgent groups dominate instead of civil police.
The Balochistan National Party leader’s comments also point to a near-total blackout of independent media coverage on the ground, with journalists facing intimidation, self-censorship, and restricted access in sensitive areas.
No immediate official response has come from the federal Interior Minister or the Balochistan government. In the past, provincial spokespersons have maintained that security forces are actively combating terrorism and that normalcy is being restored step by step.
Sardar Akhtar Mengal’s outspoken criticism adds fresh urgency to the long-standing debate over Balochistan’s security, political rights, and federal-provincial relations, at a time when the province continues to witness frequent militant attacks, military operations, and protests over missing persons.