October 27, 2002	Sunday	Sha’aban 20,1423

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QUETTA, Oct 26: Normal life remained suspended in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan as complete shutter-down strike was observed on Saturday following a call of Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (PONAM).

The call was given against the alleged rigging in the Oct 10 elections in different areas of the province. Pakistan People’s Parliamentarians and Jamhoori Watan Party also supported the call.

Police have arrested over 30 people in Quetta and other parts for pelting stones on open shops and suspending traffic.

All bazaars, shops and business establishments remained closed throughout the day. However, hotels, medical stores and eateries remained open.

Some shops were opened in the morning but some activists forced them to close down. Another group burnt tires and put barricades on main Jinnah Road and suspended traffic. Later, police rushed to the area and resorted to baton-charge and tear gas to disperse the people gathered there. Police also removed the barricades and burning tires and restored traffic after half-an-hour.

The police sources said that 16 activists of various political parties were arrested from different areas of the city for pelting stones on shops and smashing their glasses.

Reports said people in Chaman, Killa Abdullah, Pishin, Loralai, Zhob, Sibi, Mastung, Kalat, Khuzdar, Dera Murad Jamali, Turbat Gwadar, Panjgur and Uthal also responded to the call and observed complete strike. Police arrested over a dozen people from there also.

Heavy contingents of police and Balochistan Reserve Police was deployed at the major bazaars and important places to avert any untoward incident in the city.

Meanwhile, wheel-jam and shutter-down strike was continuing for the fourth consecutive day against firing by Makran scouts for killing two persons and injuring five others. The leaders of political parties have announced that until FC officials responsible for the killings were not arrested their protest would continue.

Sardar Akhtar Mengal addressed a public meeting in Panjgur announced that BNP MNA and MPA elect would not take oath till the arrest of FC personnel nominated in the FIR.

Dr Hayee Baloch also spoke on the occasion and warned that if proper action was not taken against the killers the political parties would continue their protest.