The Balochistan government struck an iron fist at protesters in Gwadar, imposing an emergency statute that prohibits the gathering of five or more people. However, demonstrators and their leaders continued to pour into the streets — and get arrested — as more and more joined in from other towns on Thursday.
Why are those who were spreading the pictures of Gwadar Stadium, afraid of seeing this reality of #Gwadar now?#CPEC#GwadarDestroyedbyChina pic.twitter.com/CsDfBjhazS#GwadarUnderSieged https://t.co/yXM2UD2rFf
— Asmat ullah Umrani (@Asmat42265937) December 30, 2022
The police have rounded up some 100 protesters in the last four days, after tensions erupted in the port city. After months of peaceful protests for basic rights, police took action against protesters on Monday morning. In spite of the government trying to impose order, protests continued on Tuesday and Wednesday.
On Thursday, the provincial government imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in Gwadar, banning gatherings of five or more people for a period one month. Displaying arms has also been prohibited.
A statement issued by the Balochistan home department said that under Section 144, “there will be a ban on all kinds of rallies, protests, sit-ins and gatherings of five or more people in the port city of Gwadar”. Hundreds remain on the streets despite this law being in force.
Three important movements in Pakistan:
-Fisherfolk in Gwadar demanding economic rights & end to militarization
-Peshawar students showing solidarity with Afghan girls
-Gilgit-Baltistan revolting against illegal taxes
Media, however, is more busy in audio leaks. Shameful!
— Ammar Ali Jan (@ammaralijan) December 29, 2022
The provincial home minister, Ziaullah Langove, has said that the government would not compromise on the writ of the state, and would strictly deal with the elements behind “violent protests” and those “using women as human shields to gain sympathies”.
Minister Home & tribal affairs Mir Zia langove video massage on current situation of #Gwadar and interventions by Government of Balochistan.
[1/3]#BalochistanRejectsTerrorism@MeerLangau @cs_balochistan pic.twitter.com/Ydteaj16b8— Chief Minister's Office of Balochistan (@CMOBalochistan) December 29, 2022
Maulana Hidayatur Rehman, who is leading the protests, said people were simply asking for their basic rights like water, electricity and jobs, and not a motorway or Orange Line.
However, workers and supporters of the Maulana Rehman-led Haq Do Tehreek (HDT) continued their protest in Gwadar, demanding the release of all people and activists of the movement.
Waseem Safar has been arrested by police after addressing at peaceful protest rally in Turbat against state violence in Gwadar, #Balochistan.pic.twitter.com/3FHxmvBTOx
— Faiz Baluch (@Faiz_Baluch) December 29, 2022
All bazaars, banks, shops and business centres remained closed throughout the day amid protest marches on various roads of the port town. Other areas of the coastal district also continued to witness a shutter-down strike for the fourth day.
Popular protests continue today in Gilgit & Gwadar, the two endpoints of the CPEC route. At one end, demanding restoration of flour subsidies, and at the other end, demanding an end to illegal Chinese deep sea fishing (and more) pic.twitter.com/Al21Kmp6LM
— Fahad Desmukh (@desmukh) December 28, 2022
