Balochistan-Wide Shutter-Down Strike on September 3 Against Unrest, Border Closures and Extortion: Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman
QUETTA: Jamaat-e-Islami Balochistan chief and provincial assembly member Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch has announced a province-wide shutter-down strike on September 3 to protest deteriorating law and order, target killings, closure of borders and highways, alleged extortion in the name of levies on petroleum products, and other basic problems faced by the people.
Addressing a meeting of Jamaat-e-Islami Balochistan office-bearers held to review preparations for the strike, Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman appealed to traders, shopkeepers, transporters and citizens to extend full cooperation to make the peaceful and democratic protest successful.
The meeting reviewed the protest sit-in held on August 29 and 30, while the efforts of party workers and organizers were appreciated. It was decided that contacts would be established with traders’ organizations and a comprehensive public outreach campaign would be launched ahead of September 3 to highlight the problems confronting citizens.
Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman said Balochistan was passing through extremely alarming circumstances. He said the law-and-order situation had deteriorated, highways had become unsafe, trucks and buses were being set on fire, and reports of young people going missing were also emerging.
He said insecurity had adversely affected business, trade and employment opportunities in the province.
The Jamaat-e-Islami leader warned that flawed government policies and continued injustices were creating a situation in which young people could be pushed toward armed struggle and the mountains instead of peaceful democratic politics.
He said such a situation was neither in the interest of Balochistan nor Pakistan, urging the state and government to provide young people with opportunities in education, employment, sports and business rather than alienating them.
Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman said the people of Balochistan were patriotic and wanted dignity, peace, employment and their basic rights.
He urged the government to take practical measures to restore peace, protect highways, reopen borders for legal trade and immediately address the difficulties faced by citizens.
He clarified that the September 3 shutter-down strike was not directed against any individual or political party, but was a peaceful and democratic protest for the collective issues, security, basic rights and employment of the people of Balochistan.
He appealed to the business community, shopkeepers, transporters and the general public to fully support the strike.
Meanwhile, Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman will hold an important press conference at Quetta Press Club at 5pm on September 1, where he will present Jamaat-e-Islami’s position on the September 3 shutter-down strike and the prevailing situation in Balochistan.
