Balochistan Traders to Observe Complete Shutdown on September 3 Against Insecurity, Road Closures
QUETTA: Traders and shopkeepers across Balochistan will observe a complete shutter-down strike on September 3 against lawlessness, terrorism, the closure of borders and major highways, and alleged extortion linked to the petroleum products trade, Jamaat-e-Islami Balochistan chief and provincial lawmaker Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman Baloch said.
He said the strike would be held with the cooperation of traders and shopkeepers across the province. Jamaat-e-Islami provincial and district leaders have met representatives of trader organizations in various districts and sought their support for making the protest successful.
According to Hidayat-ur-Rehman, traders have assured the party that the strike would not represent any single political party or group but would serve as a collective national voice of the people.
“Every citizen of Balochistan wants peace. Lawlessness, inflation and terrorism have affected every segment of society,” he said, adding that all cities in the province would observe a complete shutter-down on September 3.
He urged the government and security institutions to fulfill their responsibilities instead of watching the destruction and suffering of the people. He also called for effective measures to improve the law and order situation in Balochistan.
The JI leader expressed these views while meeting delegations of traders and shopkeepers and addressing a meeting held to review preparations for the September 3 strike.
Earlier, JI Balochistan General Secretary Murtaza Khan Kakar, provincial deputy chief Maulana Arif Dumr, Quetta district chief Abdul Naeem Rind and other party leaders visited different areas and commercial centers of Quetta. They met traders and shopkeepers and distributed pamphlets regarding the strike.
The traders and shopkeepers expressed support for the protest and assured the JI leaders that they would observe a complete shutter-down on September 3.
Hidayat-ur-Rehman said the people of Balochistan had the right to peace, employment and a dignified life. However, frequent incidents of violence, target killings, kidnappings, robberies and terrorism had created serious difficulties for the public.
He said the closure of borders and major highways had disrupted business activities and further worsened the economic conditions of thousands of families. He also termed the alleged collection of extortion from people involved in the transportation and sale of petroleum products under different pretexts unacceptable.
He clarified that the September 3 shutter-down strike was not directed against the rulers but was a peaceful and democratic expression of public concern over basic rights, peace, employment and a secure future.
The JI leader demanded that the government take the people’s grievances seriously and adopt immediate, practical measures to end lawlessness, secure borders and highways, restore legal trade and stop alleged extortion.
He appealed to traders, shopkeepers, industrialists, transporters and people from all walks of life to make the September 3 shutter-down strike successful and demonstrate unity for peace, employment and their fundamental rights.
