Quetta Traders Announce Two-Day Shutter-Down Strike Over Alleged Illegal Actions by Metropolitan Corporation
Quetta: The Balochistan Traders Association (Registered), led by the Rahim Agha Group, has announced a complete shutter-down strike across Quetta on August 7 and 8 if the provincial government fails to address what it describes as illegal actions by the Quetta Metropolitan Corporation (QMC), non-compliance with court orders, deteriorating law and order, and growing economic hardships faced by the business community.
Speaking at a press conference at the Quetta Press Club, Association President Rahim Agha, General Secretary Wali Afghan, and other office-bearers alleged that the Metropolitan Corporation has been attempting to evict shopkeepers and demolish commercial properties despite existing judicial decisions. They urged the Government of Balochistan and the relevant authorities to take immediate notice of the situation.
The association stated that nearly 987 shops fall under the administration of the Quetta Metropolitan Corporation, many of which have been rented to traders since before the creation of Pakistan. The leaders claimed that shopkeepers had regularly paid rent up to June 30, 2021, and possess official receipts and records proving compliance with their legal obligations.
The traders criticized a rent reassessment reportedly carried out in 2019, arguing that the increase was imposed without consultation with stakeholders or representation from the traders’ association, which they said was contrary to the provisions of the Balochistan Local Government Act.
They further maintained that court rulings and decisions by the Provincial Mohtasib and the Governor of Balochistan regarding rent collection have not been fully implemented by the Metropolitan Corporation. According to the association, traders have continued to comply with judicial directives by depositing revised rents through the prescribed legal process.
The association also raised concerns over the alleged demolition and eviction attempts at Askari Market, claiming that many of the shops had originally been constructed using funds deposited by traders in the 1990s. It alleged that enforcement operations carried out in June caused significant financial losses to shopkeepers and ignored court directives.
In addition to municipal issues, the traders expressed serious concern over the law and order situation in Balochistan. They said repeated attacks on passenger buses, cargo vehicles, fuel tankers, and commercial transport have severely affected business activities and increased financial risks for traders.
The association cited the burning of a trader’s battery-laden truck near Kolpur in January 2024, claiming losses exceeding Rs. 38.6 million, and criticized the compensation offered by the government as inadequate.
Calling for dialogue, the traders urged the provincial government, Chief Secretary, Commissioner Quetta, Deputy Commissioner Quetta, and the Metropolitan Corporation to hold negotiations with all stakeholders and resolve the dispute in accordance with court decisions and the law.
The association warned that if its constitutional, legal, and economic demands are not addressed promptly, a citywide shutter-down strike will be observed on August 7 and 8, adding that support will be sought from market associations, transporters, political and religious parties, lawyers, civil society organizations, and other segments of society.
The traders reiterated that their movement would remain peaceful and within the framework of the Constitution and the law but warned that they would expand their protest campaign if their concerns continued to be ignored.
