QUETTA - A wheel-jam and shutterdown strike disturbed the normal life in different towns of Balochistan on Friday. The strike call was given by Baloch National Front (BNF) in connection with International Day against Violence, which was supported by Baloch Republican Party (BRP) and Anjuman-e-Ittehad-e-Marri.
The protesters blocked the highways connecting Quetta with Karachi and Sibi at various places along with the Quetta-Taftan Road at Nushki.The towns affected by the strike were Nushki, Dalbandin, Taftan, Mastung, Kalat, Khuzdar, Awaran, Turbat, Mund, Tump, Pasni, Punjgur, Gwadar, Hub and Mach.
In Quetta, the strike was partial and government offices, courts and banks functioned as usual while traffic was also seen plying on the roads. However, business activities were suspended on Sabzal Road, Sariab Road, Double Road, Jinnah Road, Brewery Road and Killi Ismail.Protesters pelted vehicles with stones and burnt tyres at Sariab, Sabzal, Brewery and Qambarani roads.Keeping in view the prevailing law and order situation, the administration had made strict security arrangements on the eve of strike. Police backed by other law enforcement agencies were deployed at different places in the City and mobile squads continued patrolling the roads.According to reports, protest rallies were also taken out in Hub, Punjgur, Turbat, Mand and some other towns.
Meanwhile, Baloch Student Organisation (BSO-Azad) in a statement claimed that police had arrested more than a dozen of its activists from different towns including Punjgur, Hub and Turbat. On the other hand, a large number of activists of Anjuman-e-Ittehad-e-Marri, Baloch National Front, Baloch Students Organisation, Baloch Women Panel and others took out a rally and held a public meeting at the compound of City District Government Quetta office in connection with the International Day against Violence. They were carrying placards and banners inscribed with demands such as “Stop Violence against Balochs” and “Release All Missing Persons”.
Addressing the gathering, Qadir Baloch, Mehar Jan Baloch, Mehlab Baloch and others regretted over the silence of the United Nations and other humanitarian organisations regarding the alleged atrocities and excesses of rulers on Baloch people. They alleged that thousands of Baloch people were abducted by intelligence agencies and they were facing worst persecution and violence in the torture cells. They said innocent Baloch people were being hanged in Iran without producing them before any court of law but champions of humanitarian organisations were taking no action against such atrocities. They demanded the UN and international organisations to play their role for stopping human rights violations in Balochistan.
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