Chaman: protesters stage sit-in, demand release of detained leaders

QUETTA: The situation remains tense in Balochistan’s Chaman district, where a complete strike has entered its third day. Protesters continue their sit-in outside the Deputy Commissioner (DC) office.

All government and private offices, as well as banks including the DC complex, are completely closed due to the protest. The deputy commissioner and other district officers have not been present in their offices for the third consecutive day.

Traffic flow is suspended on the Quetta-Chaman highway, with minor collisions reported in the morning, although no major incidents have occurred.

A day earlier, protesters in Chaman, angered by the arrest of their sit-in leaders, attacked government buildings and installations, demanding their immediate release.

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Clashes resulted in injuries to at least 40 people, including 17 security personnel.

According to a report by Dawn, unrest has spread across the border city with protesters holding rallies and shutting down the city.

The leaders of the month-long sit-in in Chaman were protesting the government’s decision to allow only those with valid passports and visas to cross the Chaman border. Previously, Pakistanis and Afghans could cross the border by showing their identity cards.

Officials reported that the clashes began when protesters tried to block major roads, including the national highway connecting Quetta with Kandahar and disrupted traffic by erecting barricades.

The local administration, along with security forces including police, levies, and Frontier Corps personnel, used tear gas to disperse the crowd and removed barricades to restore traffic.

During the march, protesters demonstrated in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office complex, throwing stones at the building, forcibly closing shops on Mall Road and other business centers, and beating several shopkeepers with sticks.

Local officials reported that protesters disrupted the communication system and attempted to cut off the power supply to the Frontier Corps (FC) fort.

Protesters also threw stones at the FC headquarters in Chaman, prompting security personnel to fire blanks and use tear gas.

Balochistan government spokesman Shahid Rand stated that the forces and local administration tried to disperse the protesters, but when they attacked the forces, they retaliated with rubber bullets. He confirmed that at least 17 security personnel were injured in the clashes, while one policeman was shot in the hand. Some protesters were also injured.

Other sources reported that 20 protesters were injured by rubber bullets and were shifted to District Hospital Chaman, with 6 of the injured transferred to Quetta for treatment.

Dr. Rashid of the district hospital reported that 13 injured people were brought to the hospital with rubber bullet and other injuries.

Law enforcement agencies have arrested more than four dozen protesters for pelting stones at security forces and attacking government buildings. Security officials told Dawn that 56 people were detained from different areas of Chaman and that additional security personnel had been deployed in the border town.

Local journalist Asghar Achakzai told Dawn that during the clashes, the city resembled a battlefield. Internet services have been affected for the past two days, hindering reporting.

However, by nightfall, tribal elders and political leaders, led by Mufti Qasim and Muhammad Hassan, mediated with Deputy Commissioner of Chaman Athar Abbas Raja. This mediation led to the dispersal of the protesters and a return to normalcy.

Nevertheless, protest leader Maulvi Abdul Manan expressed his determination that the protests will continue until the release of their seven leaders, who were arrested by the Levies and transferred to Quetta jail.

Government Opens Badini Border

Meanwhile, the Balochistan government has decided to open the Badini border crossing on the Pakistan-Afghan border in Qila Saifullah district for trade with Afghanistan, amid months of protests in Chaman.

An official notification stated that the Badini crossing has been used for the repatriation of illegal aliens in recent months, but it has not been fully utilized for commercial purposes.