HDN Declares Balochistan Strike a Referendum Against ‘Imposed Government

QUETTA:The **Hazara Democratic Party (HDP)** has termed the province-wide wheel-jam and shutter-down strike a **public referendum against terrorism, lawlessness, oppression, and injustice**.

In its central statement, the party said that the people voluntarily observed a complete strike, expressing **no confidence in what it called a “Form 47 government”**, imposed on the province without public legitimacy. HDP declared that anyone attempting to lend legitimacy to such a government would lose credibility among the people.

The party strongly condemned the use of force by authorities against political leaders and workers supervising the strike, including arrests, calling it a sign of the government’s **fear and desperation**. It claimed that the administration, on the orders of the “imposed rulers,” tried to force shops open and sabotage the strike, but the people’s steadfastness foiled all such attempts.

HDP emphasized that the strike also served as a **collective rejection of terrorist incidents**, including the recent suicide attack on a BNP-Mengal rally. It hailed the shutter-down protest as a **symbol of unity among Balochistan’s communities**, congratulating all political parties, shopkeepers, transporters, government employees, traders, student organizations, and the general public for their participation.

Meanwhile, the party announced that on **Friday, September 12**, it would hold a **Workers’ Convention** and the **oath-taking ceremony of newly elected office bearers and members of constituency councils**. Separate meetings of district councils, women’s wings, and local units reviewed preparations for the events.

Party leaders urged workers to participate actively, stating that after the oath-taking ceremony, leadership would brief members on the **political situation, organizational matters, and party performance**, while also addressing workers’ questions and incorporating their actionable suggestions into party policies.