Following clashes with police and road blockades during a “wheel-jam and shutter-down” strike, all political leaders and workers arrested in Balochistan have been released. This release on Tuesday came after successful negotiations between provincial authorities and opposition party leaders.
Both sides reached an agreement under which the government consented to free all detained opposition workers and supporters and to withdraw the cases registered against them under various sections across the province. On Monday, police had arrested approximately 260 people from Quetta and other towns for violating Section 144, blocking highways, throwing stones at police, and attacking public and private property.
The protesters were demonstrating against a recent suicide bombing at a BNP-M rally in Quetta, which had claimed over a dozen lives. The negotiations were held at the commissioner’s office, where the government was represented by Balochistan’s Senior Minister Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, Finance Minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani, Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar, and Zamarak Khan Achakzai. Quetta Division Commissioner Shahzeb Khan Kakar and Deputy Commissioner (retd) Captain Mehrullah Badini also took part in the talks.
The opposition delegation was led by Advocate Sajid Khan Tareen, Akhtar Hussain Langove, and Agha Hassan Baloch of the Balochistan National Party; Talimand Khan, Majeed Khan Achakzai, and Kabir Khan Afghan of the PkMAP; Aslam Baloch and Changeez Hayee Baloch of the National Party; Asghar Khan Achakzai and Rasheed Nasar of the ANP; Advocate Salam Agha and Malik Faisal Dehwar of the PTI; Zahid Akhtar Baloch and Jameel Ahmed Mashwani of the Jamaat-i-Islami; and Maulana Wilayat Hussain of the MWM.
Both government and opposition delegations discussed the current situation in the province and the incidents from Monday, ultimately reaching a consensus to sign an agreement. As a gesture of goodwill and on the directives of Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, the government delegation announced the release of all political activists and the withdrawal of cases registered in various districts of Balochistan.
It was also agreed that opposition parties would coordinate with district administrations to organize rallies and public gatherings in line with standard operating procedures (SOPs). Opposition leaders assured that all demonstrations would remain peaceful, laws would be fully respected, and public property would be protected. They further pledged that no violent or destructive actions would take place during future protests.
