Balochistan strike called off after talks with government

QUETTA: A province-wide strike announced by a coalition of traders, transporters and mine owners in Balochistan was halted late on Thursday after talks with government officials, bringing an end to a widespread shutdown triggered by concerns over worsening security.

Haji Muhammad Ayub Mariani, president of the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry, announced that Friday’s planned wheel-jam and shutter-down strike had been postponed. The decision came after a late-night meeting involving Additional Chief Secretary Home Hamza Shafqaat, Quetta Deputy Commissioner Mehrullah Badini and representatives of the Balochistan Business Alliance.

Before the breakthrough, the strike had severely disrupted movement across the province on Thursday. Business activity and transport remained suspended in Quetta as well as in other cities, including Gwadar, Chaman and Khuzdar. Protesters also blocked all four national highways with heavy boulders, long-body trucks and oil tankers, stopping passenger traffic and the movement of supplies.

Security concerns behind protest

The business community launched the protest after attacks on vehicles transporting minerals increased. Dozens of trucks were set on fire in several districts, resulting in losses worth millions of rupees.

Provincial Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove, who took part in the negotiations, thanked the alliance for ending the strike. He instructed officials to address the business community’s concerns without delay and said he would help arrange talks with federal authorities as well.

Speaking after the meeting, Langove said anti-state elements were attempting to pursue their objectives by targeting installations, security forces, traders and other sectors in Balochistan. “Anti-state forces aim to achieve their malicious objectives by targeting installations, security forces, the business community and other sectors in Balochistan,” Langove said. “However, the state, the government, the business community and the public will collectively foil their plans.”

He also said the government was committed to resolving the issues raised, while acknowledging that solutions could not come immediately.

“The government does not possess a magic wand to solve every problem and difficulty instantly, but every possible effort is being made to resolve them,” Langove said.

Langove further said hostile countries were spending billions of dollars to disturb peace in the province and stressed the need for unity to defeat terrorism. He added that protest was a democratic right and said he would ask the inspector general of police to meet the business community soon.

Rail services affected

Separately, Pakistan Railways suspended the Jaffar Express for two days, describing the move as being due to unavoidable reasons. The train is the only service departing Balochistan for Peshawar.

Railway officials said the Quetta-bound service from Peshawar would now terminate at Jacobabad and would not enter Balochistan. The Bolan Mail service between Quetta and Karachi and the Chaman Passenger Train had already been suspended.