GWADAR: A large number of women belonging to different parts of Kech district staged a sit-in in front of the office of the deputy commissioner in Turbat on Tuesday in protest against what they termed ‘uncalled for’ action by the security forces.

Belonging to Sami, Shahrak, Shapak, Omeri Kahan, Gonki and Dany Sar, they marched on various roads of the town and later converged before the office of the deputy commissioner.

Carrying placards and banners inscribed with their demands, they chanted slogans against actions of the security forces personnel.

Addressing the participants, their leaders said that people of these areas were annoyed with the behaviour of the security forces.

“Rockets and bullets fired during their operation are causing panic among the people and especially woman and children are afraid of this situation,” the women speakers said, adding that search operations and exchange of fire had become a routine.

They claimed that a number of resourceful families had abandoned their areas and shifted to safe places and only those with no resources had stayed behind to face the ‘brutalities’ of the security forces.

“We should either be given protection or facilities to shift to safe places,” they said. They also demanded an immediate end to the operation.

Later, a delegation of the protesting women met Deputy Commissioner Mumtaz Ali Baloch and apprised him of the hardship being faced by them.

They said many schools had been closed because of the situation, while in some cases teachers had locked their schools fearing reprisal from the security forces. They demanded a swift action from the administration to open the closed schools.

Published in Dawn, October 29th, 2014