Let us in: Traffic between three provinces blocked for fourth consecutive day

SUKKUR:

Traffic between the three provinces of Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan remained suspended for the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday due to the sit-in staged by Bugti tribesmen, who were denied access to Dera Bugti by the Balochistan government. Heavy traffic between Sindh and Punjab is being diverted from Sukkur and Ghotki but there are still hundreds of vehicles stranded at National Highway.

Led by Shahzain Bugti, the president of Jamhoori Watan Party and grandson of Nawab Muhammad Akbar Bugti, thousands of Bugti tribesmen tried to enter Balochistan on January 18 but were stopped by the security forces at Dolli Check Post. Since then, the tribesmen have blocked the highway at Dera Morr - the area connecting the three provinces.

Despite the lapse of four days, neither the Sindh nor the Balochistan governments have taken any initiative to end the blockade. However, Kashmore district administration and the police have tried to negotiate with Shahzain in order to convince him to end the blockade but have so far been unsuccessful. For his part, Shahzain is sticking to a single-point agenda — that Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Malik Baloch allows them to enter Balochistan. He said that Baloch had promised to allow them into Balochistan but is now going back on his promise.

People in Sindh and Balochistan have been providing food and water to the Bugti tribesmen.

On January 21, delegations of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz and Jamaat-e-Islami visited Dera Morr to express solidarity with the Bugti tribesmen.Many people in the sit-in have fallen sick while one person, Lohar Bugti, has reportedly died due to the extreme cold.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2014.