Transporters stage protests as 12th Afghan-transit driver shot dead
Surviving truck cleaners say trucks are subject to targeted attacks by assailants who think these are NATO containers.
Unknown armed assailants stopped another convoy carrying goods of Afghan-Transit trade and shot dead a truck driver in Shalkot area of Quetta, on Monday.
At least 12 drivers have been gunned down on the highways in different areas of Balochistan in the past two months.
According to details, the convoy was on its way to Chaman from Karachi when it was attacked near Quetta. The attackers managed to flee from the scene after killing the driver and setting container on fire.
The deceased driver was identified as Raza Mohammed.
After the attack, members of the All Balochistan Transporters’ Association (ABTA) placed the driver's dead body outside the Quetta Press Club and staged a protest.
They chanted slogans against the government and law enforcing agencies for their failure to protect the life and property of the people on the national highway.
“Raza Mohammed was the 12th driver to be killed by militants in Balochistan during the past two months. More than 30 containers carrying goods of Afghan-Transit Trade to Chaman from Karachi have been attacked in different areas of Balochistan,” the president of ABTA Noor Ahmed Kakar told the protestors. “They are not the drivers of NATO containers,” he said, adding that “the attackers think they are NATO containers and killing the drivers. NATO supplies are not being attacked, these containers belonged to Afghan Transit Trade.”
Two drivers were shot dead on national highway in Bolan district on Saturday. “The targeted killings of drivers have become a norm in Balochistan where murderers are making fun of writ of the state. Despite tall claims, the targeted killings are taking place on a daily basis everywhere in Balochistan."
Police officials though dismissed the attacks as being the work of criminal gangs who just wanted to steal the cargo.
However, surviving truck cleaners, who accompany the trucks, contested this claim. They said attackers had forced the drivers out of the trucks and then shot them.
“These are targeted killings and attackers are under the impression that these containers are carrying NATO containers carrying goods for International allied forces stationed in Afghanistan," cleaner Noor Ahmed said.
Protesters outside the Quetta Press Club though dispersed after registering their protest. But before they did, they announced that unless the perpetrators of these crimes are not booked immediately, they will block all the highways in Balochistan in protest.
According to local administration in Mastung, NATO containers are provided adequate security in form a security convoy while they cross one district to another on highways Balochistan.
At least 12 drivers have been gunned down on the highways in different areas of Balochistan in the past two months.
According to details, the convoy was on its way to Chaman from Karachi when it was attacked near Quetta. The attackers managed to flee from the scene after killing the driver and setting container on fire.
The deceased driver was identified as Raza Mohammed.
After the attack, members of the All Balochistan Transporters’ Association (ABTA) placed the driver's dead body outside the Quetta Press Club and staged a protest.
They chanted slogans against the government and law enforcing agencies for their failure to protect the life and property of the people on the national highway.
“Raza Mohammed was the 12th driver to be killed by militants in Balochistan during the past two months. More than 30 containers carrying goods of Afghan-Transit Trade to Chaman from Karachi have been attacked in different areas of Balochistan,” the president of ABTA Noor Ahmed Kakar told the protestors. “They are not the drivers of NATO containers,” he said, adding that “the attackers think they are NATO containers and killing the drivers. NATO supplies are not being attacked, these containers belonged to Afghan Transit Trade.”
Two drivers were shot dead on national highway in Bolan district on Saturday. “The targeted killings of drivers have become a norm in Balochistan where murderers are making fun of writ of the state. Despite tall claims, the targeted killings are taking place on a daily basis everywhere in Balochistan."
Police officials though dismissed the attacks as being the work of criminal gangs who just wanted to steal the cargo.
However, surviving truck cleaners, who accompany the trucks, contested this claim. They said attackers had forced the drivers out of the trucks and then shot them.
“These are targeted killings and attackers are under the impression that these containers are carrying NATO containers carrying goods for International allied forces stationed in Afghanistan," cleaner Noor Ahmed said.
Protesters outside the Quetta Press Club though dispersed after registering their protest. But before they did, they announced that unless the perpetrators of these crimes are not booked immediately, they will block all the highways in Balochistan in protest.
According to local administration in Mastung, NATO containers are provided adequate security in form a security convoy while they cross one district to another on highways Balochistan.