QUETTA, July 10: The provincial capital remained cut off form Afghanistan on Sunday as hundreds of armed men belonging to three parties blocked the Quetta-Chaman highway.

Hundreds of vehicles, including trucks carrying flour and other items for Afghanistan and Chaman were stranded on the highway. Thousands of passengers also remained stranded.

“Men carrying heavy weapons have taken position in the hilly areas of Shella Bagh, Qila Abdullah and Jungle Piralizai,” officials said.

Source said the men belonging to the Awami National Party, the Pukhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party and the Pakistan Muslim League were demanding announcement of the result of the by-election held on Friday for a provincial assembly seat.

The leaders of the three parties are claiming victory in the election. The armed men have refused to leave their positions until the result is announced.

Local administration has deployed Frontier Corps and levies to avert clashes between supporters of the parties.