Key points:

• 150 tourists stranded in Gwadar, cannot allow govt’s writ to be challenged: Home Minister Zia Langau
• Protestors causing embarrassment at international level: provincial government spokesperson
• Coastal highway closed at three places; sit-ins, protest in Quetta, Mastung other cities

Balochistan Interior Minister Zia Langau and a spokesperson of the Balochistan government accused on Monday Gwadar’s “Haq Do Tehreek” (Gwadar Rights Movement) of closing Gwadar Port and challenging the government’s writ.

On the other hand, according to reports received from Gwadar, a protest was held on Monday by the “Haq Du Tehreek” led by Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman of the Jamaat-e-Islami. It resulted in businesses across the district remaining closed while sit-ins were held. The protests are reported to have spread to other parts of the province and the coastal highway was blocked at three junctures.

In his press conference on Monday, Langau said that the Maulana started the movement last year, which is a democratic right. He said that a delegation met with Maulana for talks, with the Balochistan chief minister and provincial ministers among those who visited the protests.

He said that in recent days, the protests have resulted in suspension of work on the Gwadar port. He said that the Hidayat-ur-Rehman speeches included negative references against the Chinese working in the area, who were confined to their quarters. Over 150,000 tourists are stuck in Gwadar because of the protest, he continued.

Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman’s Gwadar Rights Movement dominated last year’s local government elections in Gwadar, winning 40% of the seats. Rehman, who hails from a family that has been involved in fishing for three generations, led protests seeking an end to the ‘trawler mafia’ whose actions have resulted in the dwindling of marine life. The second demand during last November’s protest was against the construction of a 19km East-Bay expressway cutting fishermen from the east side of the hammerhead which they had freely accessed for generations. Other demands include recovery of missing perosns and provision of livelihood to Gwadar residents. The city also has poor elecricity and water supply.

In his press conference on Monday, Zia Langau said that efforts were made to accept the legitimate demands of the protesters. “On the instructions of the Chief Minister I went for negotiations, but Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman did not come for negotiations,” said Langau. Instead he sent a four-member committee.

Langau said that the recovery of missing persons was the demand of the entire province. “Some people go ‘missing’ on their own, others go abroad.”

On illegal trawling, he said efforts were underway to bring it under control. “It is difficult for us to determine the maritime boundaries.’

He said that he had assured the protesters of having their problems pertaining to Customs, electricity, etc., would be resolved. “After the talks, the Maulana told me that he had had his revenge.”

Langau said that Rehman himself asked for negotiations before adding that no one would be allowed to challenge the writ of the government. He said that the protesters were warned not to continue protesting at the same location as it was affecting the affairs of the state.

Shortly before Langau’s press conference, a spokesman of the provincial government issued a policy statement on talks in the past between representatives of the Haqq Du Movement and the provincial government.

It stated that the home minister and the provincial minister of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department along with a government team held talks with the leaders of the Haq Du movement. “The government delegation assured the participants of the early fulfillment of their demands. It is a matter of regret that the sincere efforts of the provincial government and desire for dialogue were considered as weakness on the part of the movement. Disturbing the peace and denying the basic rights of citizens under the guise of protest does not take place in any religious society,” it stated.

It said that an attempt was made by the participants of the sit-in today to march towards the Gwadar port and block the route. It said that this was provocative behaviour on part of the protesters.

“This attitude is causing embarrassment not only domestically but also internationally,” said the spokesperson to explain the retaliatory action by the police

The spokesperson added that the police action was limited so that it had no impact on citizens. The provincial government is still determined to resolve the issue in an atmosphere of understanding through negotiations and discussions.

What happened in Gwadar on Monday?

According to reports received from Gwadar district, which have not been confirmed by the government, the police raided the sit-in of Haq Du Tehreek at 3am in Gwadar and arrested 27 people. Those arrested included the senior leadership of the movement but its chief Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman was not among those taken into custody.

The late night crackdown resulted in protests on Monday, with businesses closed across the city.

Hundreds of supporters including a large number of women blocked Marine Drive, the main highway of Gwadar. Protests and sit-ins also continued in other cities of Gwadar district like Mara, Pasni, and Sarbandin.

According to reports, the protesters pelted stones at the police complex, while the police responded with shelling.

A protest rally was also held in front of the press club in Quetta against the raid, while the National Highway leading to Karachi was blocked by a sit-in at Pushkram in Mastung.

On the coastal highway, sit-ins were held at Ormara, Pasni, and Sarbandin, where the main road was closed. According to reports, the series of protests and sit-ins spread to Turbat, Panjgur and other parts of the province.