GWADAR: Hundreds of protesters pour onto a road seeking an end to illegal fishing, recovery of missing persons, and maximum concessions in border trade with Iran.—Dawn
GWADAR: Hundreds of protesters pour onto a road seeking an end to illegal fishing, recovery of missing persons, and maximum concessions in border trade with Iran.—Dawn

GWADAR: Tens of thousands of protesters, including women and children, blocked an expressway leading to Gwadar port on Sunday after what they said was the government’s failure to meet a Nov 20 deadline to implement their demands.

The rally participants — fishermen, students and labourers led by Gwadar Haq Do Tehreek’s leader Maulana Hidayatur Rehman — marched towards Gwadar port and raised slogans against the government.

Among the movement’s demands are stopping illegal fishing by trawlers in Balochistan’s maritime boundaries, recovery of missing persons, maximum concessions in border trade with Iran, end to narcotics and other Gwadar-related issues.

Sit-in by ‘Haq Do Tehreek’ enters 25th day

This new series of sit-ins and protests, which began on Oct 27, entered 25th day on Sunday and came after similar month-long rallies last year, some of the largest the port city of around a hundred thousand residents ever witnessed.

Speaking at the rally, Maulana Rehman and other speakers strongly condemned the federal and provincial governments for not implementing the agreement reached with the movement leaders last year.

“The struggle of Haq Do movement will continue until the problems are solved,” Maulana Rehman said on Twitter. “Today, once again the people of Gwadar have given a clear message to the ruling classes. If attention is not given, the public will have no choice but to close the port.”

Haq Do Tehreek also held sit-ins last year and they only ended after federal and provincial authorities assured protesters that their demands would be met. However, people are on the road again, accusing the governments of reneging on their promises.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2022

Opinion

Editorial

Hybrid worries
Updated 13 Jul, 2025

Hybrid worries

Once elected office is reduced to theatre, useful only for maintaining appearances, it becomes a stage for managing perceptions rather than exercising power.
Bitter taste
13 Jul, 2025

Bitter taste

THE government’s plan to import 350,000 tonnes of sugar, months after allowing the export of more than twice that...
No red lines
13 Jul, 2025

No red lines

THE US’ move to sanction Francesca Albanese, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied...
Gruesome murders
Updated 12 Jul, 2025

Gruesome murders

Long-term security can only be achieved when there is equitable development across Balochistan.
Solar policy
12 Jul, 2025

Solar policy

SOLAR net metering reforms are back in the limelight. On Thursday, Power Minister Awais Leghari announced that he...
New hope
12 Jul, 2025

New hope

EDUCATION shapes the destiny of a nation. Sadly, Pakistan’s public education sector is experiencing a national...