Passenger Coach Owners Block National Highway in Hub Despite Section 144, Protesting Customs Seizures

Hub (Daily Qudrat): Despite the enforcement of **Section 144** by the Balochistan government, passenger coach owners allegedly carrying prohibited goods blocked the **Karachi-Quetta National Highway at Gadani Mor** in protest against customs authorities.

The blockade lasted for over **12 hours**, causing severe disruption to traffic and leaving ordinary citizens, including ambulances transporting patients, stranded on the highway.

According to stranded drivers, the issue stems from alleged smuggling of prohibited goods in passenger coaches traveling from interior Balochistan to Karachi, and frequent disputes between coach owners and customs officials. As a result, coach owners reportedly block the highway every few days, causing major inconvenience to the public.

The prolonged blockade, carried out in defiance of Section 144, was seen as a direct challenge to the provincial government’s authority. Citizens have demanded that the **Balochistan government**, in coordination with the **federal authorities**, take strict legal action against the alleged bribery by customs officials and the smuggling of prohibited goods in passenger coaches to prevent repeated highway blockages.

After more than 12 hours, the protesting coach owners dispersed on their own, and traffic on the national highway was restored.