QUETTA: A shutter-down strike was observed in parts of Balochistan and the provincial metropolis on Friday, to protest the arrest of Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) leader Shahzain Bugti.
He was produced before an anti-terrorism court along with 26 others on Friday following recovery of a large quantity of weapons allegedly from his possession.
The strike call was given by the JWP and was supported by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Ideological) and trade unions. Business and commercial centres remained closed at Liaquat Bazaar, Mezan Chowk, Prince Road, Abdul Sattar Road, Sirki Road, Saryab Road and Zarghoon Road. Traffic remained thin on the roads.
Large contingents of law enforcement agencies, paramilitary forces and police were deployed in the city. However, no untoward incident had been reported. Security forces rounded up nine JWP activists for intimidating shopkeepers to close their shops. A handgun and one SMG were also recovered from the activists.
Earlier on Wednesday, law enforcement agencies had arrested Shahzain along with his 27 guards at the Buleli checkpost when he was returning from Chaman after offering fateha for the late Jilani Khan, an Awami National Party leader. The agencies reportedly recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from his motorcade – DailyTimes
