Grand Alliance Protests in Balochistan: ‘Jail Bharo Movement’ Launched Against Crackdown, Offices Locked in Quetta and Other Cities
**Quetta (Daily Qudrat Quetta):** Protests by the Grand Alliance in support of the legitimate demands of government employees continued across several cities of Balochistan, including Quetta, as police crackdowns entered a second consecutive day amid fears of demonstrations and press conferences.
Police operations and arrests of Grand Alliance leaders and workers remained ongoing in different areas of Quetta. Grand Alliance Balochistan President **Quddus Kakar** was taken into custody along with several other leaders, while many had already been arrested a day earlier. Heavy police contingents were deployed around the Quetta Press Club and adjoining areas to prevent any protest or press briefing.
Tension was reported for a short time at **Manan Chowk**, where government employees confronted police. A large number of female employees also participated in the protest, raising slogans against arrests. During the police action, employees were seen resisting arrests. Quetta police stated that the measures were taken to maintain law and order, while Grand Alliance leaders termed the crackdown an attempt to suppress peaceful protest.
At Manan Chowk, Grand Alliance organizers **Professor Abdul Quddus Kakar, Dr Muhammad Akram Wardag, Khadim Bugti, Haji Younis Kakar, Qaim Khan Kakar, Rehmatullah Zehri**, along with members of the organizing and core committees and dozens of employees, voluntarily courted arrest, formally launching the **‘Jail Bharo Movement’**.
On the call of Grand Alliance Balochistan, all government offices, educational institutions, and hospitals were locked in **Usta Muhammad**. Hundreds of workers, led by **Muhammad Usman Umrani, Sadiq Ali Jamali, and Abdul Majeed Dainari**, staged a protest demonstration outside the Usta Muhammad Press Club. Speakers said the lockdown was enforced across the district to press for acceptance of employees’ legitimate demands. They accused the Balochistan government of using violence against peaceful protesters and showing a lack of seriousness in resolving issues. They added that government employees are the backbone of Balochistan’s economy, yet their rights are being ignored.
The Grand Alliance announced that from **Thursday**, the Jail Bharo Movement would be launched across the entire province. Speakers demanded that the **Chief Minister Balochistan** and the **Chief Secretary** immediately accept employees’ **DRA demands** and release all arrested leaders and workers, warning that otherwise the lockdown would continue and all official affairs would come to a halt.
In **Mastung**, under the banner of Grand Alliance Mastung, employees of various organizations protested outside **Sarawan Press Club** against the arrest of provincial leaders, actions against employees across Balochistan, raids on homes, and non-acceptance of demands. Following consultations at the Pakistan Paramedical Staff Association Mastung, employees announced their future course of action and visited the Deputy Commissioner Complex, Treasury Office, Health, Education, Social Welfare, and other departments to review the ongoing lockdown.
A Grand Alliance Mastung spokesperson said that despite arrests and retaliatory actions, employees would not back down from their constitutional and legal rights. He warned that the government was further provoking employees by choosing repression instead of dialogue.
Meanwhile, in **Qila Saifullah**, government employees staged a protest outside the Press Club on the call of Grand Alliance Balochistan, as office lockouts and pen-down strikes continued. Protesters chanted slogans against the provincial government and demanded the immediate release of arrested employees. They warned that if their demands, including DRA, were not accepted, the protest would be further intensified. Leaders and workers of various political parties also joined the demonstrations to express solidarity with the employees.
