The “Gwadar Ko Haq Do” movement is continuing for the 15th day despite pressure from government. On Monday, women and children joined the protest in great numbers, asking for their fundamental rights. The social reforms campaign that began as a small gathering has now transformed into a widespread movement with thousands of ardent, enthusiastic supporters.
According to the details, thousands of women gathered on the Marine Drive, the busiest route in city, to protest for their fundamental rights. They marched on the main streets of Gwadar, carrying placards and chanting slogans in support of the “Gwadar Ko Haq Do” movement. The placards bore messages demanding an end to enforced disappearances, end to illegal trawling, reopening of the Iran border crossing and withdrawal of the unnecessary security forces. The women has that Gwadar is not being developed, but being destroyed – despite the billions worth of investments, there is no clean drinking water for the people; the education system is abysmal; public healthcare is so underdeveloped that one can barely find a fever pill in the hospitals.
The women asked the government to pay heed to their demands. They said that our brothers have been on the streets for more than two weeks, but to no avail. Instead of sympathizing with the demonstrators and listening to their pleas, the government has instead criminalized demonstrations, rallies and sit-in protests.
The women chastised the elected representatives of Gwadar in the provincial and federal government, saying that they should be ashamed of themselves. The protestors said that the MPAs, senators and MNAs have left their people in these crucial and demanding times and sided with the authorities.
They said that how can the city progress when there is no clean drinking water and electricity; unemployment and illiteracy is abound; the security forces arbitrarily harass innocent civilians. The government is harboring the rosy illusion that they can develop Gwadar without local assistance – that is impossible, they said.
The women were optimistic that despite all the hardships, the “Gwadar Ko Haq Do Movement” will eventually succeed and the people will get what they are so religiously fighting for. They said that we will stand shoulder-by-shoulder in with our male counterparts in this struggle.