GWADAR: A complete shutterdown strike was observed in the port city of Gwadar, Turbat and other coastal towns of Gwadar district on Saturday in protest against an armed attack on water tankers carrying drinking water from Mirani Dam for Gwadar and other towns.

Armed men riding motorcycles intercepted the water tankers in the Kuncheti Dasht area on gunpoint and burst the tyers of all vehicles.

Owners and drivers of the water tankers parked their vehicles refusing to carry drinking water from Mirani Dam till they are provided adequate security by security forces.

As a result, water supply was suspended to the port city of Gwadar, Peshkan, Sur Band and other area of Gwadar district.

Meanwhile on the call of civil society all bazaars, shops, shopping centres and business establishments remained closed in protest against the firing incident.

The protesting tanker owners and drivers and members of civil society gathered in Javed Complex where they raised slogans against the assailants.

Speaking to the gathering, Abdul Ghaffar Hoat, Kohda Hameed Asaa and Abdul Qadir Dashti strongly condemned the attack on water tankers and said that the assailants wanted innocent people to die from thirst.

They said that the people had rejected those elements which were attacking water tankers and innocent persons in the name of so-called freedom movement. They said that the people had stood up against those elements which now had no place to hide.

Meanwhile, the local administration said late on Saturday night that security had been provided to the water tankers to continue supply from Mirani Dam to Gwadar and other areas.

A senior official has said that till rainfall in the area the people would be provided drinking water through the existing system.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2017