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| There were also reports of clashes between police and protesters. (Photo: Haqq Du Tehreek Twitter) |
In Balochistan's coastal city of Gwadar, police have detained more than 20 workers of Haq Du Tehreek, while the attempt to arrest Tehreek chief Maulana Hidayatur Rehman has failed.
In Gwadar, after the failure of negotiations, the police suddenly arrived at the protest sit-in of Haq Du Tehreek between Sunday and Monday, pulled down the tents and arrested several leaders and activists including the central leader Hussain Wadela.
After the police crackdown, the activists took to the streets and there were also reports of clashes between the police and the protesters.
Although the Haq Du Tehreek has been protesting for the past two months, pressure on the government increased when protesters blocked all roads leading to Gwadar Port.
The government also made efforts to end the protest through negotiations before taking action, which were futile.
Sadaqat Baloch, a journalist from Gwadar, told Urdu News that after the late night police action, thousands of protesters came out on the streets in the morning, including a large number of women. Demonstrators marched on Marine Drive, at Sarbandan Cross, women have blocked the road by holding a dharna on the Makran Coastal Highway.
He further said that the protesters pelted stones at the DIG Police office and set the gate on fire.
Police and senior officials of the Interior Department in Quetta told Arud News that along with the main city of Gwadar, protesters have also blocked shops and highways in other areas of Gwadar including Ormara, Pasni, Sarbandan.
The Makran Coastal Highway connecting Gwadar to Karachi at zero point in Ormara and the main highway at Pasni have also been closed for all traffic.
Yesterday, a government delegation headed by Interior Minister Balochistan Ziaullah Longo had reached Gwadar for negotiations, but Maulana Hidayatur Rehman refused to meet the delegation. After negotiations between the protesters and the provincial government ended inconclusively, the police and the navy jointly launched a surprise operation late at night.
"We will not allow the law to be taken into our hands: Spokesman Balochistan Government."
The spokesman of the Balochistan government has issued an explanatory statement in which it has been said that the police had to take action to stop the advance of the protesters towards the Gwadar port.
According to the spokesperson, the provincial government tried to solve the problem through negotiations from the beginning. A few months ago, the Chief Minister himself went and ended the sit-in through negotiations, and by accepting most of the demands of the Haq Du movement, their implementation was started.
The spokesperson said that the government team led by the provincial interior minister held long negotiations, but it is a matter of regret that the sincere efforts of the provincial government and the willingness to talk were considered as weakness on behalf of the movement.
The spokesperson of the Balochistan government said that maintaining law and order and protecting the life and property of the people is the primary responsibility of the government. No one will be allowed to challenge the government writ and take the law into their own hands.
What are the demands of 'Haq Du Tehreek'?
The 'Haq du Tehreek' led by Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman had been on a continuous dharna on the Port Road of Gwadar for the past two months.
The protesters were demanding a ban on illegal fishing in coastal areas of Balochistan by large boats and prohibited nets, elimination of unnecessary check posts, drug dens and facilitation of cross-border trade.
Intensifying the protests last week, the protestors staged a dharna on the expressway and blocked all routes leading to Gwadar Port, thereby suspending the access of Chinese engineers and experts residing at the port to the CPEC projects.
On December 18, the police of Gwadar area of Ormara registered a case against 12 activists of Haq Du Tehreek, including Maulana Hidayatur Rehman, for displaying weapons.
Last year also, the protestors staged a similar protest sit-in in Gwadar for 32 days, which was later ended after an agreement was signed with Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Qudous Bizenjo.
Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman said that the government did not implement the agreement and demands, so they again staged a protest sit-in.
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