Zhob to DI Khan: Transporters protest, demand protection
Claim Shirani tribesmen intercept their vehicles, harass passengers.
DI KHAN:
The All Transporters Association of DI Khan on Monday protested against the political administration of Frontier Region (FR) DI Khan, blocking the main road connecting Zhob in Balochistan to DI Khan.
Blocking the road — which passes through Darazinda — for hours, protesters claimed the political administration had failed to provide security to them. They said armed men, mostly belonging to the Shirani tribe, stop transporters’ vehicle and sometimes even thrash the drivers, offload passengers or send the vehicles, including passenger vans, back.
A resident of Darazinda, Zubair Khan told The Express Tribune transporters from the Shirani tribe say only passenger coaches of their tribe will use the route. He added they were not allowing vehicles of other tribes such Kundi, Gandapur and Suleman Khel to pass through.
Several jirgas have been held at Circuit House, DI Khan to address the matter, but the issue remains unresolved.
Usually, passenger coaches of the Gandapur, Kundi and Suleman Khel tribes are stopped. On December 8, armed men stopped a passenger coach, offloaded the passengers and beat up the driver and conductor, also damaging the vehicle. Transporters from the Gandapur, Kundi and Suleman Khel tribes then held a protest at Kulachi Mur in Daraban area of DI Khan.
Speaking at the protest, protesters said their vehicles are being stopped by Shirani tribesmen, indicating the decreasing writ of the government in the area.
They said the road is an important route connecting K-P and Balochistan and that the safety of passengers should be ensured on a priority basis.
An official of the political administration of Darazinda said levies forces patrol the roads constantly and checking has been enhanced at the checkpoints. He added they may launch a crackdown against the armed men in coming days.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2014.
The All Transporters Association of DI Khan on Monday protested against the political administration of Frontier Region (FR) DI Khan, blocking the main road connecting Zhob in Balochistan to DI Khan.
Blocking the road — which passes through Darazinda — for hours, protesters claimed the political administration had failed to provide security to them. They said armed men, mostly belonging to the Shirani tribe, stop transporters’ vehicle and sometimes even thrash the drivers, offload passengers or send the vehicles, including passenger vans, back.
A resident of Darazinda, Zubair Khan told The Express Tribune transporters from the Shirani tribe say only passenger coaches of their tribe will use the route. He added they were not allowing vehicles of other tribes such Kundi, Gandapur and Suleman Khel to pass through.
Several jirgas have been held at Circuit House, DI Khan to address the matter, but the issue remains unresolved.
Usually, passenger coaches of the Gandapur, Kundi and Suleman Khel tribes are stopped. On December 8, armed men stopped a passenger coach, offloaded the passengers and beat up the driver and conductor, also damaging the vehicle. Transporters from the Gandapur, Kundi and Suleman Khel tribes then held a protest at Kulachi Mur in Daraban area of DI Khan.
Speaking at the protest, protesters said their vehicles are being stopped by Shirani tribesmen, indicating the decreasing writ of the government in the area.
They said the road is an important route connecting K-P and Balochistan and that the safety of passengers should be ensured on a priority basis.
An official of the political administration of Darazinda said levies forces patrol the roads constantly and checking has been enhanced at the checkpoints. He added they may launch a crackdown against the armed men in coming days.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2014.