Death anniversary: PPP’s Balochistan chapter supports strike call
Government officials expected to beef up security in Quetta and other sensitive area.
QUETTA:
The Pakistan Peoples Party’s Balochistan chapter and Baloch nationalist parties have pledged unconditional support to the Baloch Republican Party’s call for a strike on the death anniversary of Nawab Akbar Bugti.
This is the first time PPP has decided to participate in protests against the killing of tribal chieftain Nawab Bugti, who was targeted in a military operation on August 26, 2006 on the orders of then president Pervez Musharraf.
The move by the ruling party’s provincial chapter is seen as an expression of concern over the establishment’s alleged failure in curbing unrest in the historically embattled province. In the past, PPP leaders and workers have unofficially participated in similar protests, while strikes during earlier death anniversaries of the tribal and political leader have become the norm in most parts of Balochistan.
Despite no overt demonstrations, civil servants had decided to stay home and not report for their duties in the provincial secretariat or elsewhere during previous death anniversaries.
Traditionally, there is hardly any traffic with even law enforcers being wary of patrolling on the road.
Government officials are, however, expected to beef up security in Quetta and other sensitive areas to prevent any untoward incident.
Demonstrations are said to be held in the more populous parts of the province where Baloch and Sindhi nationalist parties have a larger following. Protests are also expected in certain parts of Karachi where various national parties plan to hold rallies and meetings to condemn the arbitrary military action.
(With additional input from Online)
Published in The Express Tribune, August 26th, 2012.
The Pakistan Peoples Party’s Balochistan chapter and Baloch nationalist parties have pledged unconditional support to the Baloch Republican Party’s call for a strike on the death anniversary of Nawab Akbar Bugti.
This is the first time PPP has decided to participate in protests against the killing of tribal chieftain Nawab Bugti, who was targeted in a military operation on August 26, 2006 on the orders of then president Pervez Musharraf.
The move by the ruling party’s provincial chapter is seen as an expression of concern over the establishment’s alleged failure in curbing unrest in the historically embattled province. In the past, PPP leaders and workers have unofficially participated in similar protests, while strikes during earlier death anniversaries of the tribal and political leader have become the norm in most parts of Balochistan.
Despite no overt demonstrations, civil servants had decided to stay home and not report for their duties in the provincial secretariat or elsewhere during previous death anniversaries.
Traditionally, there is hardly any traffic with even law enforcers being wary of patrolling on the road.
Government officials are, however, expected to beef up security in Quetta and other sensitive areas to prevent any untoward incident.
Demonstrations are said to be held in the more populous parts of the province where Baloch and Sindhi nationalist parties have a larger following. Protests are also expected in certain parts of Karachi where various national parties plan to hold rallies and meetings to condemn the arbitrary military action.
(With additional input from Online)
Published in The Express Tribune, August 26th, 2012.