Quetta All-Parties Conference Announces Province-Wide Shutter-Down Strike on 19 November

Quetta (Online): An all-parties conference on the province’s political, economic and law and order situation was held at the Quetta Press Club, organised by the Awami National Party (ANP). The conference was chaired by ANP Provincial President Asghar Khan Achakzai. Senior central and provincial leaders of the province’s major political parties and trader organisations attended with their delegations.

Participants included Kabir Muhammad Shahi, Secretary General of the National Party and former senator; Maulana Kamaluddin, Senior Deputy Provincial Amir of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam; Nasrullah Khan Zeray, Provincial President of the Pashtunkhwa National Awami Party; Musa Baloch, Central Labour Secretary of the Balochistan National Party; Maulana Qadir Lony, Amir of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Nazaryati); Ahmad Kohzad, Central Secretary General of the Hazara Democratic Party; Engineer Amal Khan Nasir, Provincial General Secretary of the National Democratic Movement; Abdul Hakeem Advocate, a leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf; Abdul Hameed Mansoori, Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami; and Rahim Kakar, a leader of the Central Anjuman-e-Tajiran.

At the close of the conference, a joint declaration described the overall situation in the province as extremely serious and unacceptable. According to the declaration, terrorism, extremism, targeted killings, kidnapping for ransom, insecurity on highways, plunder of national resources, enforced disappearances and unemployment have put the province’s future at risk.

The declaration also noted that the closure of trade routes with Afghanistan and Iran has affected the province’s economy. It expressed concern over inflation, load-shedding, petroleum levy, urea fertiliser and the shortage of dynamite.

Criticising the government’s performance sharply, the declaration said that failure to protect life and property, maintain law and order and revive economic activity is not merely administrative negligence but a reflection of a serious political crisis.

The conference also expressed concern over derogatory remarks, character assassination and media trials directed against ANP Central President Senator Aimal Wali Khan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and other national leaders.

The conference announced a complete shutter-down strike across the province on Thursday, 19 November. On the same day, protest demonstrations will be held in front of press clubs in all district headquarters. An all-parties provincial leadership meeting will be held at the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam provincial office on 26 November, and an all-parties conference of central leadership will be convened in the first week of December.

Participants also formed a coordination committee comprising Maulana Kamaluddin, Musa Baloch, Mabat Kaka, Ali Ahmed Lango, Zahid Akhtar Baloch, Nida Singer, Dr Sakhi, Inayat Shah Advocate, Qari Mehrullah, Zainul Abedin and Rahim Kakar.

The declaration expressed the resolve to continue joint struggle for law and order, the protection of national resources and fundamental democratic rights.