Complete Shutterdown Strike In Balochistan To Mark Balaach Marri's Martyrdom Anniversary

QUETTA: A complete wheel-jam and shutter-down strike was observed across Balochistan on Friday to mark the second death anniversary of Baloch nationalist leader Nawabzada Balach Marri, son of Nawab Khair Baksh Marri.

By Malik Siraj Akbar

* Strike remains peaceful
* Police, FC personnel patrol streets


A former member of the Balochistan Assembly, Balach was killed under mysterious circumstances on November 20, 2007 in a town on the Pak-Afghan border.

The Anjuman-e-Ittehad-e-Marri and the Baloch National Front (BNF) called Friday’s strike, which was observed by all nationalist parties, the business community, transporters and the legal fraternity. Shops, restaurants and offices of private companies were shut in the city while traffic on the roads also remained thin.

Shops on Jinnah Road, Liaquat Bazaar, Prince Road, Abdul Sattar Road, Brewery Road, Saryab Road and the rest of the city remained completely shut.

"Everyone across Balochistan supports the shutter-down strike call, which shows that Balach Marri, who sacrificed his life for the rights of the Baloch people, is recognised as the undisputed hero of Balochistan," said a BNF spokesman. He said Balach had written a new chapter of struggle and sacrifice in Baloch history and would always be remembered as a hero who fought for the rights of his people during the military regime of former president General (r) Pervez Musharraf.

Life remained paralysed in Mastung, Kalat, Noshki, Turbat, Panjgur, Awaran, Gwadar, Naseerabad, Sibi, Khuzdar and other districts of Balochistan. The strike remained peaceful throughout the province as no unpleasant incidents were reported. Police and Frontier Corps patrolled different districts in order to tackle any unpleasant incident.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\11\21\story_21-11-2009_pg7_14

Read more: Life stands still as Balochistan pays glowing tribute to Balaach Marri