QUETTA, May 18: The Balochistan transporters observed a complete strike on Saturday against an increasing number of robberies on national highways linking Quetta with the rest of the country, rising petrol and diesel prices and harassment by the law enforcement agencies during checking.

No coaches, minibuses and other passenger vehicles left for their routine destinations in Punjab, Sindh and the NWFP on Saturday. The transport was also not available for interior of Balochistan, including Zhob, Loralai, Chaman, Khuzdar, Pishin, Sibi, Dera Murad Jamali, Nushki, Taftan, Kharan and Makran.

The people who had scheduled to travel to Karachi, Lahore or interior of Sindh, faced hardship as a result. The striking transporters also did not allow passenger coaches to enter Balochistan.

The transporters have warned that if steps were not taken to stop highway robberies, they would go on an indefinite strike.

A meeting of Balochistan Bus Federation here demanded of the provincial government to take immediate measures for making highways safe for travel. Addressing the meeting, Mehmood Khan Badani, strongly criticized the government for “failing to provide protection to the people travelling on highways.”

Meanwhile, a delegation of transporters headed by Haji Jumma Khan met Balochistan Governor Justice (retd) Amirul Mulk Mengal and apprised him of their problems concerning robberies and attitude of the law enforcement agencies at various checkpoints. The governor informed the delegation that the government was taking steps to make highways safe. In this connection, levies forces would be increased and equipped with modern weaponry and vehicles.

Referring to the establishment of checkpoints by various agencies, the governor said a decision had already been taken to abolish these checkpoints.