Ban fails to deter protesters

Despite ban on gathering of more than five people under Section 144 in Quetta, workers stage rally to protest.

QUETTA: Despite a ban on gathering of more than five people under Section 144 in Quetta, workers of Wapda Hydro Electric Central Union staged a rally on Saturday to protest against price hike, unemployment and deteriorating law and order situation in the country.

Participants marched from the office of the City District Government up to the Quetta Press Club where they staged a demonstration. They were carrying banners and placards and shouted slogans against the government. They said that the government has failed miserably to arrest spiralling prices of kitchen items. They also criticised the government for “its failure” to check the rising tide of militancy in the country. Interestingly, law-enforcers did not try to thwart the “unlawful” gathering. And instead they provided the participant full security.

Addressing the protesters, union leaders Ramzan Achakzai, Syed Muhammad Lehri and others came down hard on the government, saying that though democracy has been restored in the country, the policies of the former military rulers haven’t been changed.

Referring to the volatile security situation in Balochistan, they said that the government has not been able to check incidents of targeted killings and kidnapping for ransom.

The speakers demanded that the national wealth looted by the NRO beneficiaries should be returned to the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th, 2010.