QUETTA: Participants of a long march from Loralai to Quetta called off their week-long protest sit-in in front of the Quetta Press Club on Thursday after provincial ministers and the Quetta division commissioner assured them that their all demands had been accepted and their problems would be resolved.

The long march was organised by the Loralai Justice Panel.

The people participating in the long march of Loralai Justice Panel reached Que­tta last week travelling by foot from Loralai in support of their demands which inc­luded making all Natio­nal Highways dual carriageway, stopping imposition of taxes in tribal areas of Zhob division and other districts.

Provincial Ministers Metha Khan Kakar, Noor Muhammad Dummar and Quetta Division Commi­ssioner Asfandyar Kakar held talks with leaders of protestors. The protesters were assured that all steps would be taken to resolve their problems.

Marchers want all highways made dual carriageway, taxes in tribal areas abolished

Speaking at a press conference, the leader of the protesters, Asfandyar Khan, announced that they had ended their protest sit-in. Provincial ministers Noor Muhammad Dummar and Metha Khan Kakar were also present at the press conference.

The ministers said that a meeting was held between representatives of the Loralai Justice Panel and government officials at the commissioner’s office on the special directive of the Balochistan chief minister.

A four-member committee has been formed after the negotiations, which would continue to communicate with provincial ministers and relevant departments to resolve issues on a priority basis. The committee comprises Shabbir Ahmed Mengal, add­­itional secretary of Chief Minister’s House, Que­tta Div­ision Commissioner Asfan­dyar Kakar and the protestors’ leaders Asfandyar and Pir Muhammad Kakar.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2020