Protesters stage sit-in with victim’s body, blocking Quetta road and demanding action against attackers
Protesters block the Quetta airport road in front of the BA shopping center on Sunday. — PHOTO BY THE AUTHOR
QUETTA:
Protesters continued to block Quetta Airport Road outside BA Mall on Monday after a deadly armed clash in the Hanna Urak area left four people dead and several others injured, demanding the immediate arrest of those responsible and tighter security measures.
The demonstrators placed the body of the deceased on the road and organized a sit-in, which is still continuing, disrupting traffic on one of the busiest roads in the city. They insisted they would continue their protest until authorities took concrete action against the attackers.
According to local sources, the violence broke out when unidentified armed men allegedly clashed with local tribesmen and residents of Hanna Urak. The incident sparked outrage among residents, who accused authorities of failing to maintain public order in the area. Protesters called for a large-scale operation against armed groups and demanded lasting security measures to prevent further attacks.
Learn more: Armed clash near Quetta leaves four dead, seven injured
Key political leaders and government officials, including Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, later visited the injured and affected families, as well as members of the local community. Expressing solidarity with residents, they condemned the violence and said innocent people should not be forced to live under 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 continues and authorities are continually negotiating with protesters to reopen Airport Road and restore normal traffic.
