HYDERABAD: Authorities in Kashmore district are hopeful that Bugti tribesmen and others would end their sit-in at Derra Morr following a meeting between Shahzain Bugti and Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah.

"We have provided tents for 250 families and an equal number of ration packets containing edibles. We hope that they (tribesmen) will end the sit-in soon," said Deputy Commissioner Kashmore Munawar Mahesar while talking to Dawn.com over the phone.

The blockade at Derra Morr, which led to traffic gridlock in three provinces including Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab, has entered the seventh day on Friday night after a convoy led by late Nawab Akbar Bugti’s grandson, Shahzain Bugti reached Derra Morr and were not allowed entry allegedly by Dera Bugti district administration.

“The Dera Bugti administration told Shahzain that entry of each vehicle and family will be made. This annoyed Shahzain and he said that he is not entering foreign soil. This led to present situation and since then the sit-in has continued,” said a police official from Kashmore at Kandhkot.

Around 1500 to 1600 families including women and children are staying in severe cold in the open since last Saturday when they headed for Dera Bugti from Quetta.

The Bugti tribesmen were displaced in 2005 during Musharraf’s regime.

They started their journey to return to their homes from Quetta Sukkur and Hub on Jan 17. More joined them enroute to Dera Bugti.

It is learnt that the MNA from the area, who is also a blood relative of Shahzain Bugti, intervened to resolve the impasse.

However, these attempts have not been fruitful. Shahzain, who heads Jamhori Watan Party, wants Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch to talk to him and resolve the issue.

On Friday evening, Syed Khurshid Shah, leader of opposition in National Assembly, met Shahzain Bugti at Derra Morr in order to get the road opened for traffic.

Shah told him to set up a camp on the roadside after clearing the road to press for his demands.

“He had agreed to open the road during his talks with Shah and said that he will continue his protest on roadside after opening it. But when Shah left, the protesters again blocked the place and some even pelted vehicles with stones,” said Mumtaz Solangi, a local journalist from the area.

According to Mahesar, the tents for around 250 families along with ration packets, containing edibles like rice, ghee, tea are provided to them in line with directives of Khurshid Shah.

"More packets are being provided," he added.

“We hope that they will end the blockade now to provide relief to the people,” he said.

“The convoy of tribesmen comprised 100 vehicles including trucks, mazda pick ups, vans, buses and roughly around 1500 to 1600 people,” he added

Solangi said that long queues of vehicles on Dera Bugi-Sui, Rajanpur and Ghotki roads could be seen.

The vehicles included trucks, trailers, buses and coaches.

“Only local transport in Kashmore district is operating”, he said.

The district police and administration have deployed police force at the place of sit in given the fact that Bugti's have rivalries.

“Shahzain resides with his relatives who are living in the area and then returned to join the protest,” said a police official.