Balochistan security: Mine workers announce strike

Around 15 coalminers have been killed in the past 15 months.

QUETTA: The Balochistan Mines Workers Action Committee (BMWAC) has announced a halt to coal mining across the province unless the current law and order situation is addressed. The announcement was made by former senator Abdul Rahim Mandokhel, Sarzamin Afghani and other members of the committee while addressing a press conference here on Tuesday. They said people hailing from the mining sector were feeling insecure, due to the fact that 15 coalminers have been killed in the past 15 months.  The officials added that the situation in Quetta, Suranj, Sinjidi and Marwar coalfields had seriously deterioriated and said they had raised the issue with authorities who did nothing about it. BMWAC will also hold a strike on September 29 to register its protest. They added that they will continue to protest until their demands are met and they are given extra security. BMWAC has also accused law enforcement agencies of harassing miners and transporters in the area.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2012.