CM Bugti promises compensation, jobs and education to victims’ families; all abductees have been recovered
QUETTA:
The five-day sit-in protest on Quetta Airport Road against the Hanna Urak tragedy was called off on Friday following successful negotiations between Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti and the protest committee.
Participants immediately removed their tents and protest camps after the agreement. The airport road, which remained blocked for five days, has been fully reopened to all types of traffic.
CM Bugti held detailed talks with the protest committee, heirs of the martyrs and tribal elders. The meeting was also attended by Provincial Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar, Senator Manzoor Ahmed Kakar, Commissioner Quetta Division Shahzeb Kakar, Special Assistant to the CM on Information Shahid Rind and other senior officials.
Rind said negotiations with the protest committee had been successful. The heirs expressed confidence in CM Bugti’s assurances and announced the end of the protest.
Speaking on the occasion, Bugti said that he was in constant contact with the protest committee since day one and had made all possible efforts for a peaceful, dignified and lasting resolution of the issue.
“I have long had a relationship of respect and trust with the affected families and their elders, and this relationship will continue in the future as well,” he said.
He assured that if any lapse or error occurred at any level on the part of the government, it would be recognized and corrected. Affected families will receive all possible relief and support.
The Chief Minister revealed that important decisions were taken at the Balochistan Supreme Committee meeting in the presence of the Prime Minister and Chief of Defense Force, adding that full implementation of these decisions would be ensured.
He announced that the heirs of the Hann Urak incident martyrs would be given financial compensation, government jobs would be provided to their family members and the Balochistan government would bear all educational expenses of the martyrs’ children.
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Bugti reiterated the government’s determination to take all possible measures to protect the lives and property of the population and establish lasting peace in the province.
Recall that on July 5, unidentified gunmen attacked the Hann Urak area of Kili Babri, on the outskirts of Quetta, killing five civilians, injuring eight others and kidnapping 11 people.
In protest, the heirs and residents had blocked the airport road for five days, seriously affecting traffic in the city. Meanwhile, Provincial Interior Minister Mir Ziaullah Langau confirmed that the 11 abducted people had been recovered safely. Ten were released Thursday evening and one the day before. All were taken safely to Quetta.
The Health Minister also confirmed the resumption, saying it was made possible due to the joint efforts of the Balochistan government, law enforcement agencies and tribal elders.
