Protesters stage sit-in with victim’s body, block Quetta road, demand action against attackers
Protesters block Quetta’s Airport Road outside BA Mall on Sunday. — PHOTO BY AUTHOR
QUETTA:
Protesters continued to block Quetta’s Airport Road outside BA Mall on Monday after a deadly armed clash in Hanna Urak area left four men dead and several others injured, demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible and stronger security measures.
The protesters placed the body of the deceased on the road and staged a sit-in, which is still ongoing, disrupting traffic on one of the city’s busiest routes. They insisted that they would continue their protest until the authorities took concrete action against the attackers.
According to local sources, the violence erupted when unidentified gunmen reportedly confronted local tribesmen and residents of Hanna Urak. The incident sparked outrage among residents, who accused the authorities of failing to maintain law and order in the area. Protesters called for a full-scale operation against armed groups and demanded permanent security arrangements to prevent further attacks.
Read more: Armed clash near Quetta leaves four dead, seven injured
Political leaders and key officials, including Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, later visited the injured and affected families as well as community members. They expressed solidarity with the residents, condemned the violence and said innocent people should not be forced to live under the constant threat of armed attacks.
They assured the community that their concerns would be raised with the relevant authorities and pledged to support efforts to improve security and bring those responsible for the attack to justice.
The protest is still ongoing and officials are in ongoing negotiations with protesters to reopen Airport Road and restore normal traffic flow.
