6-Year-Old Girl Exposed to Tear Gas During Protest in Quetta, Public Expresses Serious Concern

Quetta (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Daily) — A six-year-old girl was caught in tear gas shelling during protests linked to the Balochistan budget and the Balochistan Grand Alliance, triggering widespread concern among citizens and social circles over the safety of civilians, especially children and women.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred when the child was standing near a juice vendor’s cart and drinking juice. Tear gas shells fired to disperse protesters reportedly spread into the area, engulfing the surroundings in heavy smoke.

The child began crying due to severe breathing difficulty and distress caused by the gas. Locals immediately rushed to move her to a safer location.

Witnesses said the situation created panic in the area, with several women and bystanders also affected by the tear gas and forced to take shelter in safer places. Many expressed emotional distress after seeing the condition of the child.

The incident has sparked strong reactions from citizens, traders, and social activists, who have raised serious concerns about the impact of crowd-control measures on innocent civilians. They have urged authorities to ensure that such operations are conducted in a manner that avoids harm to children, women, and other non-protesting citizens.