Curfew imposed in Quetta after 3-killed in riots

QUETTA: After the death of Chief of Jamhori Watan Party and former Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Akbar Bugti in a security forces operation in Kohlu and resultant province wide violent protests that claimed three lives including that of a police officer also saw dozens of vehicles, petrol pumps government buildings set ablazed, curfew for an indefinite period of time was imposed in Khuzdar, Quetta and Noshki areas Sunday for averting any possible future violence.

Due to firing by armed men 3 persons were killed including a police officer in Quetta whereas dozens of cars, buses and petrol pumps along with government buildings were set ablaze by angry mobs.

Dozens of people were injured as a result of police firing and shelling. More than 600 protesters were arrested from different parts of the province including the provincial capital Quetta by the police by Sunday evening.

All flights from and to Quetta were cancelled in addition to the train service. All road link of the province with the rest of the country is severed.

Security was put on high alert at the provincial borders of Sindh and Punjab with Balochistan. Due to high state of tension and fear prevailing in the provincial capital after the Saturday’s incident the residents of the city are reportedly staying indoors.

During the violent protests especially in the Baloch dominant areas irked protesters attacked and set banks, petrol pumps, vehicles and government buildings ablaze.

Police mobile vans too were fired upon that resulted in injuring 20 police personnel. A police officer who sustained critical injuries due to firing by armed men in Quetta later succumbed to injuries. Two other police personnel were also injured in the firing.

In other such incidents of violence two more persons were reported to have lost their lives.

Jaffer Express, Quetta Express, Balochistan Express and other trains were stopped at the Sibbi Railway Station. Saturday night students of Balochistan University and Bolan Medical College blocked the Browri Road and Saryab Road and pelted stones at the police to mark their protest over the killings.

Later on the students set ablaze a police check post, Accountant General’s office, a post office, a petrol pump in addition to more than 18 government and private buses, cars, motorcycles, government offices and banks.

It was learnt that Sunday morning in the suburban area of Quetta, Aallamo Chowk, violent protesters torched numerous vehicles and fired at the police injuring 9 police personnel.

Police after taking dozens of people into custody from different areas imprisoned them on account of creating violence.

On the other hand in the Baloch majority areas in the province that include Sibbi, Qallat, Mastong, Khuzdar, Hub, Punjgur, Turbat, Pasni, Gawadar, Noshki, Kharan, Dalbandin and Nokandi thousands of armed people took to streets and torched banks, Nadra offices and district office of PML. The protesters fired at police mobile as well.

In some areas including Khuzdar there are reports of attacks on the houses of foreign nationals.

Meanwhile, tension and panic prevailed in Karachi as violence erupted in many areas of the city following the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti.

As per details, enraged mobs burnt tires and pelted passing vehicles with stones. The highly charged youth chanted slogans against the government for killing the veteran national leader.

The irate protestor blocked roads by setting tires on fires on the roads.

The areas, which were gripped by high tension were Malir, Khokhrapar, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Patelpara, Lyari, Jahangir Road, Baloch Para, Lyari, Memon Goth, Old Golimar, Ilyas Goth, Pak Colony, Baldia Town, Dalmia, Mawach Goth, Adam Hangora Goth and other areas of the city.

In the areas of Jamshed Road, Baloch Para, Malir, Mawach Goth, Lyari, Khokhrapar some unknown youth restored to aerial firing and energy mob blocked the road by burring tires and erecting barricades.

The public transport in the city also remained thin following the tension in the city. The inter-province bus service, between Karachi and Punjab, remained suspended on Sunday as transports on Super Highway halted due to the uncertainty prevailed in the city and the traffic for Quetta from Karachi was also remained suspended.

Meanwhile, police and security agencies were put on high alert in the city on Sunday to avert any backlash of the killing of JWP Chief, Nawab Akbar Biugti.

Police and Rangers officials were deployed in all the major roads and thoroughfares and police and security officials patrolled in all the sensitive areas, especially Bloch-dominated areas to thwart any untoward incidents.

Police and security officials conducted extensive snap checking of vehicles in all parts of the city.

Sources said that Police, Rangers and other paramilitary forces were put on high alert and heavy contingent were deployed at government installation including Karachi Airport, Cantonment and City Railway Station and others places aimed to meet any possible reaction from Baloch activists.

The source further said that the high authorities has directed the police and security agencies to strictly monitor the railway stations, bus stops, airport and other public places in wake of any possible act of terrorism after the killing of Bugti.

whereas amid tension in the city, the funeral in absentia (Ghay-e-bana Namaz-e-Janaza) of the veteran Baloch nationalist leader and Chief of Jamhori Watan Party, was offered at Baloch Para under the auspices of four-party Baloch Ittehad here on Sunday.

As per details, the ’Ghay-e-bana Namaz-e-Janaza’ of Nawab Akbar Bugti, who was killed in a security forces operation in Dera Bugti district of Balochistan was offered here at Baloch Para, Jamshed Town. Large number of people belonging to Baloch nationalist parties attended the funeral prayers.

After the prayer, the enraged activists of nationalist parties took to the roads and lit bone fires on road and pelted vehicles with stones. They blocked Jamshed and Business Recorder road for vehicular traffic by burning tires and erecting barriers on the roads.

The highly charged protesters chanted slogans against the government and President General Pervaz Musharraf for killing of the defiant tribal leader.

They hold President Musharraf responsible for the killing and were demanding registration of murder case of Bugti against Musharraf. The enraged mob attacked a Police picket at Lasbela Chowk and tried to set it on blaze, however the timely action of police saved the picket.

Police and Ranger officials rushed to the areas and resorted to aerial firing and baton charge the protectors to disperse the them and arrested some of the protestors.

After a brief clash with the protesters the police managed to disperse them and controlled the situation.