Karachi, Feb 8 Parts of Balochistan came to a standstill on Sunday after an opposition alliance called for a complete shutdown and traffic strike to mark the anniversary of the February 8, 2024, Pakistani general elections, which they allege were rigged.
The call for the strike was issued by Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Aain Pakistan (TTAP), the united front of all opposition political parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, led by former prime minister Imran Khan, in the country.
Following the February 8, 2024, general elections, Khan had accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of "stealing the mandate," alleging that they rigged the election to seize control by manipulating the results.
The leaders of TTAP echoed this sentiment, calling for a nationwide shutdown and traffic strike on Sunday.
Normal life was disrupted in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, and other parts of the province, with public transport suspended and all markets closed, according to Hafiz Ziaullah, a senior member of the Jamiat Ulema Fazlur Rahman group, Balochistan chapter.
The government has ordered the deployment of heavy police and frontier corps, as supporters of various component parties of the TTAP movement are staging demonstrations at multiple locations, blocking highways and main roads leading into and out of Quetta.
Several protesters were arrested during clashes with law enforcement agencies, further escalating tensions, police said.
Balochistan was rocked by massive violence when at least 216 terrorists, 36 civilians, and 22 security personnel were killed during the days-long operation launched on January 26 in response to terror attacks across the province.