Balochistan, April 17 -- Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) President Sardar Akhtar Mengal on Wednesday called off his 20-day-long sit-in at the Lakpass area of Balochistan's Mastung district against the arrest of Baloch activists, fearing its effect on traders in the province, The Express Tribune reported. He also announced that BNP-M would initiate a new public outreach movement.

The BNP-M had launched the long march to protest the arrest of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) chief organiser Mahrang Baloch, other leaders and workers, and police crackdowns on a sit-in. Mengal had said that the BNP-M would hold a march on Quetta, but was kept at bay by the government.

Speaking at a news conference in Mastung, Mengal called off the s...