QUETTA: Road link of Balochistan with Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Afghanistan remained cut off for the second consecutive day on Saturday as transporters observed a strike against kidnapping of Asad Khan Tareen, the son of Local Government Minister Sardar Mustafa Tareen.

Armed men had kidnapped Mr Asad two weeks ago in Pishin town. His car was found abandoned near Cadet College, Pishin, where he was working as mess in-charge.

All kinds of traffic linking Balochistan with Dera Ismail Khan, Dera Ghazi Khan and Kandahar remained suspended. Passenger coaches, buses, wagons, trucks and other modes of transport remained off the road. No transport was available in Quetta for travelling to northern Balochistan.

Transporters keep vehicles off the road in protest against kidnapping of minister’s son

Hundreds of protesters kept the Quetta-Chaman highway blocked by putting big boulders and barricades on it. Roads leading to Chaman-Zhob, Pishin, Qila Saifullah and Loralai were also blocked.

Activists of the All Parties Action Committee and Anjuman-i-Tajran set up a protest camp in the Khojak Pass area on Quetta-Chaman road, blocking the highway linking Quetta with Afghanistan. Nato supplies and Afghan transit trade also remained suspended as protesters refused to allow tucks and other long vehicles to continue their onward journey.

Hundreds of trucks loaded with goods were stuck between Quetta and Chaman.

Chaman DPO Asad Khan Nasar and Assistant Commissioner Hafiz Muhammad Qasim reached Khojak pass and negotiated with the protesters to clear the road but they refused.

Leaders of the action committee said that they would keep the highway blocked till the recovery of the kidnapped person.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2016