The provincial government has announced that it is sending an additional force of 5,500 police officers in Gwadar on anti-riot duty as the Gwadar Ko Haq Do movement enters day 18. The protestors, however, are unmoved in their resolution – they are determined not to leave the roads until the government concedes all of their demands.
In a notification issued by Balochistan’s Central Police Office, the government has ordered additional 5,500 police officers on anti-riot duty in Gwadar. The officials say that this move is to ensure the safety and security of the people. The statement said that the senior superintendent of the Gwadar police will be the overall head of the police force and the sub-divisional police officers will be chairing their respective sub-divisional force.
“Except ASP (assistant superintendent of police)/DSP and SHOs, no one shall carry weapon[s]. Two gunmen with each ASP/DSP and each SHO shall accompany the police personnel and ensure their security and safety,” the notification said.
The development comes as the Gwadar Ko Haq Do Movement, a social reforms campaign, has entered its 18th day of continuous protests. The government has tried thrice to strike a bargain with the protestors but to no avail. Now that the government plans to resort to force to disperse the protestors, the protestors are adamant that they will remain unfazed until the government complies to their demands.
The protestors have reportedly presented an 18-point agenda to the government, which included an end to unnecessary security checkpoints and withdrawal of the unneeded forces, an end to the “trawler mafia” and allowing the local fishermen access to the sea and the reopening of the border crossing with Iran. The government has agreed to four demands, but the remaining 14 are yet to be entertained.
The protestors are expanding the protests – on Thursday, they blocked four key highways of the city, including the Makran Coastal Highway. A shutter-down strike was also observed in Gwadar and the shops and markets were closed. On the call of trade unions, a shutter-down strike was also observed in Ormara and Pasni.
Maulana Hidayat Ur Rehman, the leader of the movement, said that the protests will continue until the protestors’ demands are not met. He said that 70 years have been already provided to the government and extra time is not an option now. The government must concede to our demands and implement reforms, he said.
Meanwhile, Balochistan’s Minister for Planning and Development, Zahoor Buledi, said that the government is working on a joint strategy with the protestors. “Hopefully there will soon be a positive result to the Gwadar protest that will be in the favour of the people and Balochistan”, he tweeted.