July 26, 2002	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 15,1423

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QUETTA, July 25: A shutter down strike was observed here and in some other parts of the province on Thursday on the appeal of Balochistan National Party (Mengal) to demand arrest of killers of BNP leader Mir Aslam Gichki.

The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy and Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement supported the strike call.

Shops, shopping plazas, business establishments and markets remained closed on the main roads of the city and surrounding areas of the provincial capital.

However, in the afternoon the traders opened their shops and markets on Abdul Sattar Road, Liaquat Bazaar, Suraj Gang Bazaar and some other areas started normal business.

Shops were opened in different areas in the morning as the central body of traders had announced that it would not observe strikes. However, a group of workers took round of the city areas and forced the shopkeepers to shut down their shops.

The police arrested at least 12 workers, including BNP Secretary-General Habib Jalib Baloch, Vice-President Sajid Tareen and Information Secretary Sana Baloch. They were released in the evening, Quetta Police Senior Superintendent Rahmatullah Khan Niazi said.

According to reports reaching here, strike was also observed in Khuzdar, Kalat, Hub, Sibi, Bela, Mastung, Nushki and parts of Makran.

Some arrests were reported in Sibi and Khuzdar.

BNP(M) President Sardar Akhtar Mengal at a press conference termed the strike a success and thanked the people for responding to the call.

He said the government despite strong demand by the party had not arrested the people nominated in the FIR for killing Aslam Gichki.

He alleged that the murderers were freely moving in Mashkey and government agencies were giving them protection.

He held secrete agencies responsible for the deaths of Aslam Gichki, Noor Mohammad Hasani, Ghulam Nabi Marri and Khan Mohammad Nizamani.

Sardar Mengal said police had arrested scores of party workers in Quetta, Sibi and Khuzdar. He said the workers were released in Quetta and Sibi in the evening.

He said the BNP cabinet would meet on Friday to evolve its course of action.

#OUR HUB CORRESPONDENT ADDS:#/ A complete shutter down strike was observed here on the call of the BNP(M) and Baloch Students’ Organization (Manzoor) against the killing of their leaders and policies of the government.

Business activities remained suspended as all the markets, shopping centres and shops remained closed from the morning till late in the evening. The same situation was reportedly observed in Bela and other parts of Lasbela district.

A protest rally led by Lasbela District BNP General Secretary Wazeer Khan Rind was brought out from BNP district office.

GOVT SPOKESMAN: A spokesman for the provincial government termed the strike call unjustified and claimed that people did not respond to it.

In a statement, the spokesman said investigation into the incident about which the call was given had been completed and its report would be completed soon.

He said four persons involved in the incident had been arrested and the government was making all possible efforts for the arrest of other accused. He said the government had posted new administrative officers in the area.