Shutters down in Quetta on opposition’s call

Leaders, traders lambast provincial govt for its failure to keep a check on inflation

QUETTA: Business fraternity on Friday observed a complete strike in Balochistan’s provincial capital to protest against rising inflation and worsening law and order in the province.

The strike was announced on Wednesday by opposition parties and traders association during a press conference at Balochistan Assembly.  On Friday, business activities in Quetta came to a halt while traffic on roads also thinned out considerably. The opposition parties also staged a protest demonstration outside the Quetta Press Club and chanted slogans against provincial government.

Balochistan Public Accounts Committee Chairman Akhtar Hussan Langove, chief of Sarawan Nawab Aslam Raisani, Pashtookhwa Milli Awami Party’s (PkMAP) Nasrullah Zeeray, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) leaders and Anjuman-e-Tajiran leaders also addressed the protesters.

“We have given nine months to the provincial government to resolve public and provincial issues but they didn’t. This compelled us to launch a movement against the Jam Kamal government.”



Akhtar Hussain Langove reiterated concerns about lapse of funds.

“The development process in the province has stopped due to flawed policies of Jam Kamal led provincial government but we with the support of people would continue demanding due rights of people of Balochistan,” Langove said.

JUI-F leader Abdul Haq said the provincial government did not clear its position on the Public Sector Development Fund (PSDP). “80% funds of the PSDP have lapsed in the least developed province which shows the incompetence of the current government,” he said.

The opposition parties and traders’ union lamented over burgeoning inflation in the country which, they said, is making poor people’s lives tougher.

“Disturbed law and order in the last two months has harmed our businesses but provincial government has not done anything to improve the situation,” Abdul Raheem Kakar added.