Protests by Families of Ziarat Police Martyrs and Hanna Urak Victims Disrupt Quetta, Security Placed on High Alert

Quetta: Protests intensified in Quetta on Friday as the families of police personnel killed in the recent attack in Ziarat and the victims of the Hanna Urak incident staged separate sit-ins, demanding justice, the arrest of those responsible, and improved security.

According to reports, the bodies of 21 victims brought to Civil Hospital Quetta were handed over to their families. Eight were transported to their hometowns for burial, while relatives of 14 victims placed the bodies on a road near Coal Phatak and began a protest, delaying the funeral rites. The demonstrators called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of those involved, the recovery of missing personnel, and justice for the affected families.

Meanwhile, the families of those killed in the Hanna Urak incident continued their sit-in for a fifth consecutive day on Airport Road. Protesters said they would not end the demonstration until their demands were accepted and effective action was taken against those responsible.

The two protest sites, located less than a kilometer apart, caused severe traffic disruptions across the city. Major roads, including Coal Phatak, Airport Road, Samungli Road, and surrounding routes, witnessed long traffic jams, leaving commuters, patients, students, and travelers stranded.

In response to security concerns, authorities placed Quetta on high alert, deploying additional personnel from the police, Levies, Frontier Corps, and other law enforcement agencies. Security has been tightened around sensitive locations, government installations, and major roads, while traffic police are diverting vehicles to alternate routes.

The district administration has urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, use alternative routes where possible, and cooperate with law enforcement agencies during the ongoing security measures.