In a significant development, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has called off its sit-in protests across Gwadar and Balochistan province following successful negotiations with local administration officials. The decision came late Thursday night after Dr. Mahrang Baloch from the protesters’ side and Gwadar’s Deputy Commissioner signed an agreement to address the protesters’ concerns.
The agreement includes a restoration of internet services, which had been disrupted during the sit-in. According to a declaration from the Balochistan Home Ministry, the local administration has pledged to reopen all roads and remove any obstacles to ensure smooth traffic flow.
“The ministry has committed to resuming normal traffic conditions, and the individuals who were arrested during the protests will be released once the demonstrators disperse peacefully,” the statement added.
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The sit-in had begun when convoys of protesters were halted en route to a Baloch Yakjehti Committee meeting in Gwadar. In Mastung, protesters heading to the coastal city were dispersed, resulting in injuries to 14 people. The disruption had caused significant traffic issues, affecting routes to Karachi, Khuzdar, Hub, Kalat, Surab, Turbat, Panjkur, and Gwadar. The closure of the National Highway and the Makran Coastal Highway (M8) led to severe delays for both cargo trucks and passenger vehicles.
The primary demand of the protesters was the recovery of missing persons. Earlier, Balochistan Home Minister Ziaullah Langove had emphasized that the provincial government was open to dialogue. He condemned the violence and suggested that anti-state agendas were being promoted through organized efforts.
“Innocent Baloch individuals are being misled against the state as part of a larger conspiracy,” Langove said. He asserted that attempts to destabilize Pakistan through such means would ultimately fail.
