GWADAR: The protesting owners and drivers of pick-up and other vehicles on Tuesday called off their sit-in at Surbandan Cross and Zero Point areas of Makran Coastal Highway and other linking roads after the local administration accepted their demands.

Traffic on the coastal highway and other roads linking Makran was reopened after the agreement as the protesters ended their sit-in after four days.

The pick-up and other vehicles’ owners staged the sit-in to protest against the attitude of the Coast Guards personnel posted at checkpoints, who, the protesters claimed, humiliated passengers travelling in pickups and other vehicles’ owners and drivers during checking.

Gwadar District Council Chairman Waja Syed Miyari Jan Nuri, Aman Jumma, Mohammad Jan Kulanchi, Ghafoor Hot, Saeed Ahmed Baloch and Hafeez Kiazai of Haq Do Tehreek held talks with local administration headed by Gwadar deputy commissioner Hamoodur Rehman Ranjha.

During the sit-in, a camp was established, drawing participation of people and political leaders.

The breakthrough came on Tuesday night when representatives of the protesters and local administration officials reached an agreement.

Gwadar Assistant Commi­ssio­ner Mir Jawad Zehri later annou­nced key points of the agreement.

According to the agreement reached between the two sides, the Kantani Hour Depot will remain open for five days a week, and barriers placed to stop small vehicles at Talar and Karwat will be removed.

The Gwadar deputy commissioner announced that the agreement would be swiftly implemented by the Balochistan government.

He said that notifications have already been sent to security checkpoints to ensure quick implementation of the agreement.

DC Ranjha urged vehicle owners and drivers and other stakeholders to remain patient as the government would complete necessary administrative procedures, which were already under way.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2024