Police arrested at least 20 who staged a sit-in outside a passport office against the one-document regime in Chaman city of Balochistan on Tuesday.

“It was necessary to intervene after a provocation to block the passport office. The requirement of a passport for travel is a decision of the state. The implementation of the passport policy will not be hindered, caretaker Information Minister of Balochistan Jan Achakzai said in a statement.

It is pertinent to mention that the protest began after the government decided to implement a one-document regime for the international border.

The arrested protesters also included the spokesperson for the sit-in Sadiq Achakzai as the Chaman Parlat committee announced a shutter-down strike against the administration’s actions.

The info minister vowed to take action against those who take the law into their own hands, saying that the local elders are being engaged to address the issues of the protesters.

He went on to add that the protesters had been allowed to protest in recent months, however, the administration took action after the protesters took law into their hands.

Meanwhile, the protesters blocked the Kozak Top (Khojak Pass) as a huge contingent of FC Force was deployed in the area to control the situation.