GWADAR: Thousands of people belonging to different segments of society took to the streets of Gwadar on Thursday, rallying against various issues ranging from the presence of large fishing trawlers to lack of health facilities and drinking water.

The shroud-wearing demonstrators — led by Jamaat-i-Islami Balochistan’s General Secretary Maulana Hidayatur Rehman Baloch under the “Gwadar Ko Haq Do” movement — marched on different roads of the coastal town and chanted slogans against the government and local authorities.

The protest rally was mainly directed against unnecessary check-posts and the presence of fishing trawlers across the Balochistan coast.

Earlier, the provincial government formed a committee to talk with the movement’s leadership but negotiations failed to produce fruitful results.

The participants of the sit-in could not be satisfied by assurances from the government and refused to end the protest until their demands were implemented.

Maulana Baloch placed the three most important demands of the people, including the removal of some additional check-posts at Pushkan, Sarbandan and Gwadar City; complete removal of fishing trawlers; and the opening of the border.

The presence of fishing trawlers has caused quite a stir among people living across the Balochistan’s coastal areas, as their livelihood mostly depends on fishing. The protesters say this kind of fishing is destroying the marine life, depriving the local fishermen of their livelihood.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2021