QUETTA, March 7: A multi-party conference (MPC) called on Monday for a shutter-down strike on March 12 in Balochistan to press the government to find the kidnapped people and ensure safety of traders and other people travelling on highways.

The Convener of the Pakhtun Ulasi Qaumi Jirga, Nawab Ayaz Jogezai, who presided over the meeting, said it had also decided to organise rallies all over the province on March 15.

Representatives of the PPP, PML-N, BNP-Mengal, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, ANP, National Party, JUI-Ideological, Jamaat-i-Islami, Hazara Democratic Party, Balochistan Bar Association, Anjuman Tajiran, Zamindar Action Committee and transporters' union attended the meeting.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Nawab Jogezai said the political parties and groups that had given the strike call were neither against the government nor did they want to destabilise it because “we firmly believe that democracy should flourish in the country, but it is also true that the government has failed to protect the lives of citizens”.

He said the peaceful protest would continue till all abducted people, including judges, lawyers, traders and members of minority communities, returned.

Nawab Jogezai said the issue of kidnapping was very serious and it was the responsibility of the government to take all measures to protect people's lives.

In a related development, Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani said that law and order was not only the responsibility of the government but political parties and tribal elders had an equally important role to maintain it.

Talking to Dawn on Monday, he appealed to political leaders and tribal elders to join hands with the government for securing peace and achieving progress and prosperity in the province.

He said that strikes and rallies were no solution to the Balochistan issue.

Mr Raisani condemned the incidents of target killing and kidnapping for ransom and said that the elements involved in such crimes were spreading culture of hatred and destroying peace in Balochistan.

He said the government would take action against those found involved in anti-peace and anti-social activities.