Full-scale strike was witnessed in Khuzdar, Naal and Wadh town while rallies were carried out in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan on Friday against the police action against the participants in Turbat long march.
It is to be noted that, the road links between Sindh and Punjab remained cut-off for several hours as protestors were staging rallies, blocking Quetta-Karachi and highways across Barkhan-Dera Ghazi Khan.
The effect of the strike was also seen in towns across Wadh, Khuzdar and Naal, after all shops, markets and shopping centers remained closed. A large number of people, including the political workers, members of civil society and human rights activists took part in the protest rallies and sit-ins.
At the same time, a sit-in was staged against the detention of the marchers in Islamabad while a protest rally was also carried out in the area in which a large number of women and children participated.
They marched on different parts of Khuzdar, burnt tyres on the Quetta-Karachi highway in order to block the traffic. They also blocked traffic on roads in Khuzdar, Naal and Wadh areas.
Noting all this, Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) president also joined one off the protest rallies for expressing solidarity with those taking part during the Turbat long march.
The BNP-M leader have denounced the Islamabad police for thrashing protestors and arresting them. He raised demand for immediate release of all those including women and children detained by the police.
Students and political activists staged a sit-in protest on the Sariab Road near Balochistan University. The sit-in led to suspension of traffic on the road.
As per the Barkhan deputy commissioner, a protest rally was held in Bewata area near Balochistan-Punjab border. The protesters blocked Barkhan-Dera Ghazi Khan Highway, suspending traffic on the highway for 14 hours.
Meanwhile, in the evening, the highways were reopened after successful talks between the leaders of protestors, local administration and tribal elders.
