QUETTA: Workers and supporters of some political parties held a demonstration here on Tuesday against the reported change in the route of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The parties which took part in the demonstration included Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Ideological, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Sami, Awami National Party and Hazara Democratic Party.

Addressing the protesters, leaders of these parties, including Maulana Qadir Luni, Asghar Khan Achakzai, Wakil Reza, Maulvi Abdul Hakim and others, cautioned the federal government that any change in the route of the economic corridor would endanger national integrity.

They accused the PML-N government of trying to change the route to benefit Punjab. They claimed that the original route of the corridor was Gwadar-Khuzdar-Quetta-Zhob-Dera Ismail Khan which had been changed to Islamabad-Lahore-Multan-Karachi-Gwadar. They said the change in the route would be a conspiracy against the unity of nation.

The leaders called upon the government to refrain from making the project controversial.

They have called to observe a shutter-down strike on Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2015

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