ARKHAN: A complete shutter down strike was observed in Barkhan district to protest against the killing of sub-house office (SHO) Riaz Ahmed Zehri, a son of Mir Amanullah Zehri, a senior leader of the Balochistan National Party.
The strike call was given by the Balochistan National Party which received a positive response through the district. All shops and business centers remained completely closed while think traffic was seen on the roads. People voluntarily responded to the strike call and all forms of businesses were reported to be absolutely paralyzed.
The Balochistan National Party activists also took out a protest rally to condemn the targeted killing of Mr. Zehri and chanted slogans against the government’s inefficiency to bring the culprits to justice. They demanded an immediate registration of a case against the murders and arrest of the perpetrators of the killing.
The protestors were also carrying placards in their hands and chanted slogans against the provincial government over its failure to protect people’s lives and property in the country’s largest province. The rally was addressed by Malik Majeed Khatran, a central leader of the BNP, Ghulam Sarwar Khatran, the district president of the BNP, and Gulzar Kathran, tehsil unit secretary of the party.
They termed the killing of Riaz Zehri as a continuity of the anti-Baloch policies of the previous government which were now being equally followed by the Pakistan People’s Party-led coalition government in Balochistan. They said such targeted killing of the Baloch leaders is an attempt by the government to demoralize the Baloch leadership and force them to give up their struggle for the Baloch rights. However, the Baloch history is full of sacrifices given by brave sons of the soil and the Baloch sons will not hesitate from giving all forms of sacrifices for the protection of Baloch coast and resources.
Meanwhile, the Balochistan National Party (BNP) has appealed to all progressive forces, including political parties, trade unions and business community, in Balochistan to make its call for a shutter down strike successful on November 6.