KARACHI, April 9 Tension gripped parts of the city on Thursday after demonstrators blocked traffic and resorted to firing into the air and burning of tyres in protest against the killing of three Baloch leaders in Turbat.

Baloch nationalist leaders in the city condemned the killing, alleging that government agencies were responsible and calling for shutter-down strikes in all Baloch areas on April 10 and 11 and a wheel jam strike on April 12.

Three Baloch nationalist leaders were kidnapped outside their lawyer`s office in Turbat, Balochistan, on April 3, and their bodies were found on Wednesday. Seven days of mourning have been announced in Balochistan and all Baloch-populated areas of Pakistan by Baloch nationalist leaders.

Angry protesters in Karachi resorted to firing into the air, pelting of stones and blocking of traffic in several areas, including Jehangir Road area of Baghdadi, Kalakot area of Lyari, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Quaidabad, Old Golimar, Mauripur Road, Native Jetty and other Baloch-populated areas.

Massive traffic jams were reported in all of these areas, particularly on the road linking Golimar and Lasbela. Traffic on Garden Road was also disrupted in the morning, as an angry mob blocked the road at several points.

No Rangers or police personnel were seen on the roads, though members of the traffic police were trying to restore traffic flow at the Golimar Chowrangi.

DIG Traffic Khurram Gulzar confirmed that the roads had been blocked by activists in protest against the killings. He added that he did not know what the protesters` demands were.

Mengal condemns govt

Speaking at a hurriedly called press conference at his residence, Baloch National Party (Mengal) chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal condemned the murders of Ghulam Mohammad Baloch (chairman of the Baloch National Front), Lala Munir Baloch (a BNF central leader) and Sher Mohammad Baloch (deputy leader of the Baloch Republican Party).

He said that the Baloch nationalist parties hold “government agencies” responsible for the killings, and charged that the present government was pursuing the policies of the Musharraf government. He said the present PPP-led government did not want to resolve the Balochistan issue.

Mr Mengal accused the government of committing “genocide in Balochistan”.

The BNP-M leader alleged that the kidnappings of political activists had become common in the province, and said that the talk of reconciliation and negotiation were meant only to “fool the people”.

He added that his party leaders and workers had been falsely implicated in murder cases in Khuzdar and other places.

Mr Mengal alleged that the present government was not powerful enough to resolve the Balochistan issue, and that those who actually had the power to do so did not have the inclination.

Mr Mengal said that time had proved the insincerity of the government regarding the situation in Balochistan.

He was of the view that the matter could be resolved politically only if the “real powers” desired to do so.

He urged the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to take suo motu action against the murderers of the Baloch leaders.

Condemning the “repressive actions” of the rulers, Mr Mengal said that such actions would not deter the Baloch people from their struggle for their rights.

The BNP leader announced seven days of mourning and issued a call for a two-day shutter down strike on April 10 and 11. He also called for a wheel jam strike on April 12 in Balochistan and elsewhere in Baloch-populated areas.

`Agencies` responsible

A separate press conference was also held by leader of the Baloch National Front in Karachi Abdul Wahab Baloch, Baloch Republican Party representative Shahnawaz Baloch, Baloch Students Organisation (Azad) representative Zahid Baloch and BNM leader Abdul Wahid Baloch at the Karachi Press Club.

The leaders condemned the murders of the Baloch nationalist leaders in Turbat.

They alleged that the leaders had been picked up by officials of government “agencies” outside the office of their lawyer, Kachkol Ali, on April 3.

They also alleged that the “agency people” had beaten up the leaders in broad daylight, saying that there were widespread protests against their arrest throughout Balochistan.

They informed those present that BNF chief Ghulam Baloch had played a mediating role for the release of UNHCR representative John Solecki, adding that even Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani had condemned their arrests, describing them as a “conspiracy against the ongoing reconciliation process in the province”.

They asserted that Balochistan was currently “totally under the control of government agencies, who are victimising innocent people”.

They said that the Baloch people merely wanted the same rights as any citizens of a sovereign nation, as guaranteed in the United Nations charter.

Punjab Baloch Ittehad leader Danish Baloch, in a separate statement, also condemned the murders of the Baloch leaders, terming them “gruesome” and “inhuman”.

He said that instead of solving the problems of the Baloch people, the political leadership of the country was resorting to using force against them.

At a separate press conference, Yaqoob Bizenjo, an MNA of the BNP (Awami), also condemned the murders.

He threatened that if the government did not change its policies concerning Balochistan, he would resign from his party.