Strike observed in Quetta to mourn suicide blast victims

Published February 19, 2020
QUETTA: A view of closed shops in a market during the strike on Tuesday.—INP
QUETTA: A view of closed shops in a market during the strike on Tuesday.—INP

QUETTA: A complete strike was observed here on Tuesday in protest against killing of eight innocent people in a suicide blast on Monday.

The strike was called by political parties, including the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awa­mi Party, Awami Nat­ional Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, Pakistan Peoples Party, Balochistan National Party-Mengal and traders’ organisations.

All shops, markets, shopping malls and business establishments remained closed in the city throughout the day to condemn terrorism.

The Quetta city and areas on its outskirts presented a gloomy and deserted look. Traffic also remained thin as majority of the vehicles remained off the road. Most of the banks closed their main shutters, but served customers through small doors.

Heavy contingents of police, Balochistan Constabulary and Frontier Corps were deployed in and around the city to deal with any untoward situation.

Political parties thanked people and the business community for keeping their business completely closed throughout the day. They said the peaceful people of Quetta had proved that they are against terrorism and want peace in Balochistan.

FIR registered

Meanwhile, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) registered a first information report (FIR) of the suicide attack.

Police said that the FIR had been registered on a complaint of the Civil Lines SHO against unknown people under sections of the Pakistan Penal Code and the Anti-terrorist Act.

A team of senior police officers was investigating the incident.

The funeral prayer for two policemen and one Levies man, who lost their lives in the suicide blast, was performed at the Police Lines, Quetta. Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove, Inspector General of Police Mohsin Hassan Butt, DIG Quetta Abdul Razzak Cheema and other officials attended the funeral.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.
Ceasefire, finally
Updated 26 Mar, 2024

Ceasefire, finally

Palestinian lives matter, and a generation of orphaned Gazan children will be looking to the world community to secure justice for them.
Afghan return
26 Mar, 2024

Afghan return

FOLLOWING a controversial first repatriation phase involving ‘illegal’ Afghan refugees last November, the...
Planes and plans
26 Mar, 2024

Planes and plans

FOR the past many years, PIA has been getting little by way of good press, mostly on account of internal...