Quetta Police Detain Over 100 Protesters Amid Balochistan Strike
QUETTA — Police in Quetta arrested more than 100 protesters on Monday after they defied a ban on public gatherings, reportedly shutting down markets and blocking key highways in the province, officials said, according to Dawn News.
“Over 100 people were arrested under charges of violating Section 144, forcefully shutting down markets and blocking highways,” Quetta Senior Superintendent of Police Muhammad Baloch told Dawn.
The detentions followed a province-wide strike called by six opposition parties to protest a deadly suicide bombing on September 2 targeting a public meeting of the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M), which killed 15 people and injured 38. Police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators, AFP reported, while images circulated on social media showed roads blocked with stones and burning debris.
The National Highways and Motorways Police confirmed that sections of the N-25 highway near Baleli Customs, Hub, and Mastung’s Sona Khan area were closed due to the protests. Shops and businesses across Balochistan were shuttered, as the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry, along with other associations, joined the strike in solidarity with the victims. Private schools, colleges, and universities also remained closed.
Leaders from the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) alliance — including the PTI, PkMAP, and BNP-M — announced that highways, intercity roads, and routes leading to Quetta airport and railway station would be blocked during the strike. Some posts claimed that the Western Bypass in Quetta was “completely shut” and that protesters were resisting police shelling.
The September 2 bombing occurred during a rally at Shahwani Stadium to mark the fourth death anniversary of former Balochistan chief minister Sardar Attaullah Mengal, a veteran nationalist leader. Mengal, along with other senior political figures, had left the venue minutes before the blast and escaped unharmed.
Describing the attack as a “painful and tragic act,” Mengal criticized the state for failing to protect the gathering. Leaders across the opposition have vowed to continue protests and pressure authorities for accountability, even as law enforcement enforces strict measures to maintain order.
