Balochistan’s coastal city of Gwadar has been under siege for the __ consecutive day. The roads are blocked, burnt tires pepper the streets, the effects of the tear gas are still felt, heavily armed security forces flank every entryway into the city, and gunshots frequently punctuate the eerie silence.
Civilian protestors and the Pakistani security forces confront each other on every road. Carrying placards and chanting the slogans, the protestors marched forward as the heavily armed soldiers push them back, sometimes forcefully.
But the government of Balochistan is adamant that the situation is under control. Government spokespersons claim that the three entryways leading into Gwadar have been reopened, whereas the Gwadar Marine Drive and the Airport Road are also functional.
The government also claims the demonstration in Pasni, a city in the Gwadar district, has ended. Security forces have been stationed on the Pasni Zero Point, Gwadar Fazil Chowk, and Gwadar Jetty to maintain “peace and security.”
The government spokespersons are also undercounting the security forces stationed in Gwadar. They claim that there are 500 soldiers at the Expressway Sarbandar Cross and 400 others on the Hashmi Chowk. The protestors are other busy city spots, like Kashti Chowk, Al-Johar School and Syed Zahoor Shah Road have been dispersed, they claim.
But the ground realities are different. According to The Balochistan Post representative in the city, the unrest has not subsided and protestors have gathered on the roofs. Most roads are still blocked, the traffic is sparse, markets and shops are closed, and the security forces frequently patrol the streets to prevent the people from regrouping.
Internet, cellular services and electricity in Gwadar have been shut down, which serves to show that the situation is far from being under control.
The TBP representatives report that the police violently beat up a protestor, Dost Muhammad, who succumbed to his wounds and died.
It is pertinent to mention that the security forces and the protestors of the “Haq Do” movement clashed on Monday, where a police soldier was shot and killed. Chief Minister Balochistan, Quddus Bizenjo, blamed the “Haq Do” movement leader Maulana Hidayat Ur Rehman and directed the authorities to book him on charges of murder. So far, 18 leaders of the “Haq Do” movement have been arrested.
Balochistan Home Minister Zia Langove also lambasted the “Haq Do” movement leaders, saying they have spoken against “our Chinese friends” which is unacceptable.
However, the leaders of the “Haq Do” movement have denied the allegations, saying that the security forces opened indiscriminate fire to disperse the protectors which ultimately resulted in the death of the police soldier.
The protest leaders said that the deputy commissioner of Gwadar had visited the protest camp to negotiate an end to the protest. The way he talked indicated that the soldiers of the Pakistani military and the Frontier Corps would dress as police and levies soldiers and attack the protestors. It would be killing two birds with one stone – the protestors would be dispersed and the people would blame the local administration for the chaos and violence, and the security forces would be free from the blame, they said.
The “Haq Do” movement leaders told TBP that many of their companions and sympathizers were arrested from their homes and moved to unknown locations, including protest leader Hussain Wadhela.
Protest leader Mulana Hidayat Ur Rehman blamed the government for the ongoing situation, saying that instead of accepting and fulling the legitimate demands of the protestors, the authorities have resorted to violence to silence them.
However, the government has said that the protestors tried to shut down the port, and the forces had to carry out a small-scale operation to prevent them.
The protest in Gwadar has been going on for several weeks now. The protestors demand that the government should intervene and prevent the illegal trawling on the coasts of Gwadar. They claim that at least 2000 trawlers from Sindh frequently encroach on the waters of Balochistan, which is driving the fishermen of Balochistan out of business.
The protest leaders claim that the trawlers are using dangerous and illegal methods for fishing. It is not only affecting the aquatic life, and robbing the local fishermen of their sole source of income.