QUETTA, Oct 16: Tension prevailed and normal activities remained suspended in Turbat and other coastal cities as complete strike was observed in Makran for the second day on Wednesday.

The strike call was given by Balochistan National Movement to protest against the defeat of its candidate Dr Yasin Baloch in recounting of votes.

The returning officer had rejected his 633 votes saying they were found double stamped and declared Syed Ehsan Shah of National Alliance successful with a margin of 176 votes.

Normal life remained suspended in Turbat, Gwadar, Pasni, Jewani, Panjgur and other areas of Makran as all business establishments and markets remained closed.

Frontier corps, police and Balochistan reserve police patrolled Turbat and security at government installations was tightened following violent incidents on Tuesday in which a mob burnt down the record of the district registration office and attacked official buildings.

No traffic plied in and around the city. Passenger coaches and other traffic could not reach Turbat or leave for Karachi, Quetta and other areas due to the wheel-jam strike on Tuesday.

The business community and people of Panjgur, Gwadar, Pasni, Jewani and other areas responded positively to the strike call.

Thousands of BNM supporters in the morning started marching on the roads.

They were chanting slogans against the government and returning officer of PB-48, Kech-1.

The protestors attacked the Turbat district registration office and after ransacking it set on fire the record of national identity cards. The building was burnt down.

The mob also attacked the Pakistan Television booster and other government buildings. However, police and other law enforcement agencies reached the spot and dispersed the people.

The protesters blocked all the main roads of the township burning old tyres and pelted stones on passing vehicles smashing their windscreens.

Some protestors also attacked private buildings, including hotels and shops, and threw stones on them.

Police baton-charged the protesters and used tear gas to disperse them. Clashes between protesters and the police continued till the afternoon.

Police sources, when contacted, said the situation was under control and about a dozen people had been arrested in connection with attacks on government buildings.

Complete strike was also reported from Kharan and some areas of Kalat and Mastung.

A BNM leader, Akram Baloch told Dawn over telephone from Turbat that the registration Office was burnt by its own people to dispose of the record of fake national ID cards issued by the staff for bogus voting in favour of government sponsored candidates.

DR HAYEE: BNM chief Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch, at a press conference on Tuesday, alleged that government resources were used to defeat candidates of his party in Makran and other areas as the BNM had refused to compromise on the rights of the people.