Heavy Exchange of Fire in Quetta’s Hanna Urak Sparks Protest Sit-In; Talks With Government Fail to End Blockade

QUETTA: A prolonged exchange of gunfire between local tribesmen and unidentified armed men in the Hanna Urak area of Quetta triggered a protest sit-in on Monday, with residents blocking the main road and vowing to continue their demonstration until adequate security is ensured.

According to reports, the incident occurred late Sunday night in Killi Babri, where an estimated 20 to 25 unidentified armed individuals allegedly attempted to enter the area. Local residents and tribesmen confronted them, leading to a fierce exchange of fire that continued for several hours.

During the confrontation, rockets were reportedly fired at a nearby village, escalating fears among local residents. No official information regarding casualties or injuries was immediately available.

In response to the incident, local tribal elders, including Asif Kakar, Maulvi Rahmatullah, and Ajab Khan Kakar, along with a large number of residents, staged a sit-in and blocked the road leading to Hanna Urak, demanding immediate and effective security measures.

Provincial Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar, senior administrative officials, and police authorities held several rounds of negotiations with the protesters in an effort to end the blockade. A delegation of tribal elders also met the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Balochistan, who assured them that practical steps would be taken to strengthen security in the area.

Despite the assurances, protesters announced that the sit-in would continue until concrete measures are implemented to safeguard the region. Further negotiations between government representatives and protesters continued late into the night, but no agreement had been reached at the time of filing this report.