Balochistan strike shuts Quetta as groups protest lawlessness and highway insecurity

A province-wide shutdown and wheel jam strike took place in Pakistan’s Balochistan on Thursday. The protest focused on rising lawlessness and problems reported by several communities. Reports and visuals from Quetta showed empty markets and quiet roads. Major highways also became difficult to use, as vehicles were placed to block traffic.

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The strike followed a call by a Joint Action Committee in Quetta. The group included the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry and several trade bodies. It also involved the Coal Mines Association, Anjuman-e-Tajran, and the LPG Association. The Young Doctors Association and the Transport Association also joined the call.

Balochistan strike blocks Quetta highways and border routes

Transporters blocked key national highways with their vehicles. These routes link Quetta with other parts of Pakistan and with border areas. With roads blocked, travel and goods movement were disrupted. The shutdown also kept many towns and cities closed across Balochistan. Several markets did not open during the protest.

An official from the Joint Action Committee said the shutdown came after government inaction. The official said authorities had not taken steps to control worsening security. The Committee linked the strike to repeated incidents on major routes. Protest organisers also said several sectors faced daily risks due to the situation.

Balochistan strike leaders cite lawlessness and insecurity

Ayub Mariani, president of the Committee, described a range of concerns. "Freight and public transport vehicles are hijacked and torched on national highways, traders and shopkeepers are getting extortion slips, doctors are insecure, mine workers work in unsafe conditions and it appears there is no law in the province,\" Ayub Mariani, the president of the Committee said in Quetta.

Mariani also linked the protest to an attack in Quetta. \"We are also observing this complete strike to show solidarity with Dr Mahnoor Nasir, who fell victim to the acid attack at the Quetta Civil Hospital on June 5. This incident shows the lawlessness in the province, he said.\" Mariani said many people faced stress and uncertainty.

He added, \"We are facing mental stress, financial uncertainty and so many problems but the government has taken no concrete steps to listen to our grievances, he added.\" Organisers said the strike reflected frustration across different groups. They said the protest aimed to press officials to address safety, crime, and workplace conditions.

Balochistan strike highlights transporters’ losses on highways

Hakim Baloch from the Balochistan Transporters Association spoke about attacks on vehicles. Hakim Baloch said the group had lost many vehicles to looting and violence. Hakim Baloch said dozens of freight trucks and public transport buses were affected. \"Our workers are not safe, he pointed out.\"

By Thursday, the shutdown left major population centres closed and key roads blocked. Protest leaders said they acted after repeated incidents and a lack of government response. The Joint Action Committee said the strike reflected shared concerns among traders, transporters, doctors, and mine workers. No further details were provided about when normal activity would resume.

With inputs from PTI