QUETTA: The provincial capital and several towns and cities of Balochistan remained cut off from Sindh and others parts of the country after traders and transporters blocked national highways at different points on Monday to protest against robberies and muggings.

The protesters blocked Luck Pass at the Quetta-Karachi highway and blocked it, resulting in suspension of all kinds of traffic between the two cities and Quetta and Taftan. Hundreds of vehicles were stuck at both sides of the pass.

According to sources, protesting traders and transporters also blocked highways linking Balochistan with Punjab and other areas of the country.

However, they called off the protest and postponed it to November 14 after negotiations with the provincial secretary home.

Traders and transporters held protests against looting of goods transport and passenger coaches on the Quetta-Karachi national highway in other districts of Balochistan as well.

The call for the protest was given by different associations of traders and transporters and supported by the National Party.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2022