QUETTA, Jan 11: A strike was observed in the city on Friday in response to a call by Anjuman Tajran Balochistan (ATB) in protest against the killing of around 100 people in bomb blasts on the Alamdar road and Bacha Khan chowk on Thursday.

At least 163 people were injured in the terrorist attacks.

Shops and trading centres remained closed across the city and traffic on roads was thin.

The call was supported by the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazl and Ideological groups), Hazara Democratic Party, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf and Tahaffuz Azadari Council.

The traders headed by ATB president Abdur Rahim Kakar took out a procession and paraded parts of the city, with participants raising slogans against the government.

Mr Kakar said the government had failed to protect the lives of citizens, adding that killing of scores of people in blasts had proved that police were simply incapable of containing terrorism and lawlessness in the provincial capital.

A group of protesters blocked Brewery Road near Hazara Town and torched tyres. Later, they dispersed peacefully.

The local administration had deployed heavy contingents of police, Frontier Corps, Balochistan Constabulary and Levies to meet any eventuality.

JOURNALISTS’ PROTEST: Journalists held a separate demonstration outside the press club in protest against the death of their colleagues in the blasts. Four media personnel were killed or injured in the incident.

The Balochistan Union of Journalists observed black day to condemn the incident and announced a three-day mourning to express solidarity with families of the victim media men.

A black flag was hoisted on the main entrance of the press club.