QUETTA: Police have registered cases against exiled Baloch leaders Baloch Repubican Party (BRP)’s President Brahamdugh Bugti, nationalist leaders Harbiyar Marri, and BSO-Azad self exiled leader Banuk Karima for supporting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement on Balochistan.

The cases were registered at five different police stations on the complaints of petitioners Muhammad Hussain, Munir Ahmed, Maulana Muhammad Aslam, Ghulam Yaseen Jatak and Muhammad Rahim at five police stations in Khuzdar area.

The cases were registered under sections 120, 121, 123 and 353 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The sections refer to “concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment”, “waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against Pakistan”, “concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war”, and “assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty”.

According to District Police Officer Khuzdar Muhammad Ashraf Jatak, applicants claimed Bugti, Marri and Baloch had ‘supported’ Modi’s Aug 15 speech regarding Balochistan.

Petitioner Munir Ahmed stated that these Baloch activists asked the Indian premier to intervene in Baochistan.

Modi’s controversial statement sparked protests across Balochistan, with large numbers of tribesmen taking to the streets in protest in Dera Bugti, Khuzdar, Quetta, Chaman and other parts of the province.

Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri in a speech criticized Indian premier’s statements and accused Indian spy agency RAW for supporting the ongoing insurgency in Balochistan”.

Zehri also slammed Nawabzada Brahamdugh Bugti and said his grandfather and companions had made sacrifices for creation of Pakistan.