Balochistan Remembers Shaeed Habib Jalib For The 2nd Day Amid Violence

The Baloch Hal

BALOCHISTAN: Normal life remained paralyzed all over Balochistan for second consecutive day on Thursday in protest against the assassination of Baloch nationalist leader Habib Jalib Baloch on Wednesday morning in Quetta.

All the major commercial establishments, business centres and shops remained closed for the second day and the streets in the commercial districts wore a deserted look joining protest against killing Habib Jalib.

RCD and other highways were blocked from different directions where people put up barricades and held sit-in protest to paralyze the routine life. Two Thousand kilometers long RCD Highway linking Karachi with Zahidan remained closed at different points in major human settlements in Central Balochistan.

Police lobbed tear gas shells on enraged protestors on Double Road, an extension of Zarghoon Road, and Saryab Road in order to disperse them as they set tyres on fire disrupting vehicular traffic. They also pelted the passing vehicles and buildings with stones. They were protesting against the opening of some shops and a few commercial establishments in the area. Heavy contingent of police and Anti Terrorism Force (ATF) had been deployed in important places of the metropolis to deal with any untoward incident. No major incident took place in Quetta barring some clashes and hide-and-seek between law enforcement agencies and enraged protestors on a number of roads.

Police have arrested around 40 people from different parts of Quetta city who were forcing the shopkeepers to close their shops, a senior police officer told news Men. The arrested people were later released.

All the schools, colleges and universities were closed across the province. University of Balochistan announced summer vacations from 19 to July 31, 2010. According to official statement, the educational institutions would remain close for two more days.

Most of the business and shopping centers remained closed on Jinnah Road, Abdul Sattar Road, Saryab Road, Brwery Road, Gulimar Chawk, Satellite Town, Prince Road, Smugli Road, Shahbaz Town, Jinnah Town, Hazarganji, Joint Road, Shahr-i-Iqbal, Airport Road and Zargoon Road for the day. Even eating houses and chemists’ shops were also shut. However, a single vegetable market situated in Mezan chowk was allowed to function as usual. All the roads and streets wore deserted look as traffic was off on the roads during the strike. Public transports were also off the roads.

Contrary to Wednesday, there was a strong police presence on most of the important roads and localities and police mobiles and armoured personnel carriers remained ready to meet any eventuality.

The lawyers boycotted the court proceedings all over Balochistan and the lawyers abstained from their duties. The Balochistan Bar Association and the Baloch Bar Association also participated in the protest on Thursday. All the cases in sessions and before local magistrates were adjourned till next hearing.

According to reports reaching here, in other parts of Balochistan, including Khuzdar, Mastung, Kalat, Lasbela, Turbat, Mand, Jaffarabad, Nasirabad, Sibi, Bolan, Dasht, Hub, Mastung, Wadh, Dalbandin, Chagai, Naushki and Dera Allahyar situation remained under tense and people preferred to stay at their homes. Official sources said that Police and Frontier Crops patrolled the streets to maintain public order. Traffic was off on the national highways.

Highways and RCD highway remained blocked from all directions suspending vehicular traffic on the highways and roads connecting different townships of Balochistan and also linking Balochistan with Iran and Sindh from different directions.

According to a statement issued here, Central Information Secretary of BNP, Agha Hassan advocate has said that party had received good response of strike call as majority of traders voluntarily shut their businesses and transporters avoided to take out their vehicles entire day. He said the strike would continue to day.

It may be mentioned that the BNP had announced three days of shutter down and wheel jam strike in whole of Balochistan condemning the assassination of Habib Jalib. There will be strike on Friday for the third day.

Meanwhile, Police rounded up 10 suspects for questioning in the assassination of Habib Jalib. Police conducted raids at the residences and houses of some criminal elements possibly involved in the murder.

The IG Balochistan had formed four teams to investigate and he is personally supervising the investigations. Police sources confirmed that they are all suspects and they are being questioned for the possible involvement of other, more organized groups, in the offence.