QUETTA, Dec 27: Hundreds of PPP supporters protested in Quetta and other towns of Balochistan against the killing of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on Thursday.

All shops, business centres, markets and shopping plazas in the provincial capital were closed after the assassination of Ms Bhutto.

The Anjuman Tajiran Balochistan gave a call for a strike in Quetta on Friday. Protesting activists of PPP burnt tyres on Joint Road, Jinnah Road near Saleem Complex, Quarry Road, Prince Road and Alamdar Road bringing traffic to a halt. They also pelted vehicles and shops with stones on Joint Road.

Protesters also burnt tyres and blocked traffic on the National Highway in Dera Murad Jamali, Usta Mohammad, Loralai, Sibi, Muslim Bagh, Hub, Khuzdar and other areas.

Police and personnel of other law-enforcement agencies dispersed protesters and restored traffic on the highway and other roads. A procession led by Balochistan PPP’s senior vice-president Jamal Khan Jogezai marched on the main roads of Quetta chanting slogans against the government.

The protesters gathered at Mizzen Chowk, where Mr Jogezai condemned the assassination and held the government responsible for it. He paid homage to Ms Bhutto and termed her death a great tragedy.

The administration put the security on high alert and deployed more personnel of police, FC and Balochistan Constabulary in Quetta and other areas of the province.