QUETTA: Talks between the Balochistan government and protesting transporters of the province failed on Friday after which the latter resumed their protest by blocking national highways at different places.

Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on highways causing inconvenience for commuters.

Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch held talks with All Balochistan Transport Ittehad president Haji Abdul Qadir Raisani over the shifting of mini-bus stand to Hazargangi, a suburban area of the city, but the dialogues remained unsuccessful.

The administration claimed that all facilities were available at the main bus stand in Hazargangi, but transporters were not ready to leave their old stand in the city.

Representatives of transporters told reporters here that their committee would decide their future course of action. They rejected the administration’s claim of providing facilities at the Hazargangi bus stand.

The protesting transporters blocked highways in Kuchlak, Lakpass and Kolpur areas, suspending bus services to Karachi, Taftan Chaman, Zhob and Sibi.

Drivers of inter-city buses did not ply their vehicles on routes in solidarity with the protesting transporters, forcing people to depend on rickshaws and pick-ups for their movement in the city.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2015

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