Balochistan Traders Body Demands Immediate Release of Shopkeepers Arrested During February 8 Strike

**Quetta (Qudrat Roznama):** The **Central Traders Association Balochistan** has strongly condemned the arrest of **more than 200 shopkeepers and street vendors** during the shutter-down and wheel-jam strike on **February 8**, demanding their **immediate and unconditional release**.

In a statement, the association said it had supported the strike on the call of the **Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Aain Pakistan**, and traders in Quetta, like elsewhere in the country, had **voluntarily closed their businesses**. However, police carried out operations in the afternoon and arrested over 200 shopkeepers and vendors, an action the association described as unjustified.

The traders’ body said the arrests during a **peaceful and voluntary strike** were incomprehensible, stressing that no one was forced to close shops and that traders had shut down their businesses of their own free will.

According to the association, efforts were made to contact the administration for the release of the arrested individuals, but officials gave conflicting explanations, at times citing **detention under the 3 MPO** and at other times alleging **rioting**, which the association rejected as baseless.

The Central Traders Association Balochistan has appealed to the **Chief Minister Balochistan, Chief Secretary, Additional Home Secretary, Inspector General of Police**, and other relevant authorities to immediately release all shopkeepers and street vendors arrested on February 8. It warned that failure to do so would leave the association with no option but to launch **strong protests**, for which it said the **provincial government, district administration, and police authorities** would bear full responsibility.