QUETTA: Pakistani authorities on Wednesday closed the Pak-Iran border in Panjgur district after violent demonstrations and attacks on government offices in Saravan area of Iran’s province of Sistan-Balochestan.

“We have closed the border with Iran at Zero Point Sakan of Saravan district of Iran after firing and violent incidents on the Iranian side,” a senior official of the Panjgur administration told Dawn.

He said that Pakistanis involved in smuggling of Iranian petrol and diesel had been asked not to go towards the border area.

Reports received in Panjgur said that violent demonstrations continued in Saravan area on the third day on Wednesday as mobs attacked government offices and ransacked and burnt down several vehicles in its main town.

“The office of the governor of Saravan also came under attack,” the reports said. There were also reports of killing of over a dozen people in the firing by Iran’s border security forces. However, there was no official confirmation of the number of casualties.

Members of Iran’s border security forces fired on owners of vehicles and drivers involved in the smuggling of Iranian fuel who had gathered at Zero Point Sakan along the border with Panjgur a couple of days ago.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2021