Gwadar: 20 arrested as protest turn deadly

GWADAR: Protest in Gwadar by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee turned violent as protestors pelted stones at police, who responded with aerial firing and tear gas shelling.

According to reports, the unrest led to the arrest of over 20 people.

Read more: 1 soldier martyred, 16 injured by ‘violent protesters in Gwadar’: ISPR

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee held a sit-in in Mastung. The protest, aimed at preventing participation in the Gwadar rally, has continued for a third day.

In Gwadar, the escalation saw police firing into the air and deploying tear gas in response to stone pelting by protesters.

Due to the clashes and road blockages, including the closure of Makran Coastal Highway (M8) and connecting roads, traffic disruptions ensnared both passenger and cargo vehicles.

In a related development, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti invited Baloch Yakjehti Committee leader for talks. However, Bugti stated that disruptions to peace and order will not be tolerated.

Balochistan Interior Minister Zia Longo also arrived in Gwadar to engage with the Baloch Yakjehti Committee leaders.

As per reports, hundreds of Iranian pilgrims, including women and children, are stranded near the Iran border due to the turmoil in Gwadar. The pilgrims are facing extreme heat and a shortage of food and water, having been stuck for two days.

The Baloch Yakjehti Committee’s demands include cessation of resource seizures, and the allocation of Balochistan’s resources for the local population.