Quetta Red Zone reopens after 17 years

QUETTA:

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bezenjo has announced to open the red zone for traffic which was closed 17 years ago.

All barricades and hurdles have been removed by the authorities concerned and gates were opened for the people on the orders of the provincial chief executive.

Governor of Balochistan Syed Zahoor Ahmed Agha and Bizenjo visited the red zone and announced to remove all the barricades from the Zarghoon road area where all important offices, including the Governor and Chief Minister Houses, Balochistan Civil Secretariat, residences of chief secretary, IG police and other ministers were located. Common traffic, including auto-rickshaws, and other vehicles were not allowed in the red zone while entry of protestors and all kinds of demonstrations was also banned.

The red zone was established in the area 17 years ago due to security concerns. A suicidal truck attack was carried out near the official residence of the Balochistan IG which had claimed many lives. The then IG police Mushtaq Sukhera had escaped the attack but some parts of his and the Governor House badly damaged. Bezenjo also ordered not to block roads for the traffic in Quetta and other areas of the province.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2022.