QUETTA: Protesters in Qila Abdullah ended their sit-in and agreed to bury the bodies of the deceased after authorities managed to recovered an abducted man and reached a late-night agreement with demonstrators, officials said.
The sit-in began earlier this week following a deadly shooting in Qila Abdullah that left three people dead and kidnapping of Haider Kakar. Following the attack, relatives of the victims placed the bodies on the Quetta-Qila Abdullah-Chaman Highway, demanding action against the perpetrators.
Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove confirmed that Mr Kakar had been rescued, prompting tribesmen and local residents to call off their protest and reopen the highway to traffic. “The abducted Haider Kakar has been rescued and handed over to the family,” the minister said.
Families agree to bury bodies as abducted man recovered, govt pledges amicable resolution
The breakthrough followed late-night negotiations in Qila Abdullah between demonstrators and a provincial delegation, according to Balochistan Home Affairs Adviser Babar Yousafzai. The negotiating team included Balochistan Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar, Provincial Assembly members Asfandyar Kakar and Zamrak Khan Achakzai, and PPP Balochistan General Secretary Rabbani Kakar.
The health minister said the talks amicably resolved all of the demonstrators’ demands. “Fulfilling the commitments made to the protesters is the responsibility of the provincial government.”
Mr Langove pledged that authorities would safeguard the lives and property citizens. “The Balochistan government stands alongside its people in this futile conflict,” the home minister said, adding that the government would thwart “all nefarious designs of India’s proxies”.
Provincial Assembly members Asfandyar Kakar and Zamrak Khan Achakzai, who participated in the negotiations along with both ministers, echoed the government’s security assurances.
Mr Asfandyar said protecting citizens remains the administration’s top priority, while Mr Achakzai said the public would not be left alone under any circumstances.
Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2026
