Gwadar protest ends after negotiations with govt

Quetta: After over a month of protests in Gwadar, Maulana Hidayatur Rehman, the leader of ‘Spirit of Give Right to Balochsitan movement’, has announced to end the protest after negotiation with the government.

A key progress on the matter comes after the government’s negotiating committee comprising federal ministers Asad Umar and Zubaida Jalal met the protesters in the port city of Balochistan and assured them of addressing their grievances.

It is noteworthy here that thousands of protesters had staged a sit-in against unnecessary check posts and fishing trawlers in the Gwadar district and were demanding civic amenities and employment opportunities for the local people.

Confirming the report, Balochistan Minister for Planning and Development Zahoor Buledi took to Twitter and wrote that the negotiation between the government and Balochistan secretary-general of Jamat-e-Islami Maulana Hidayatur Rehman took place in the presence of the chief minister of Balochistan, Abdul Quddus Bizenjo.

"The negotiation with Maulana Hidayatur Rehman in the presence of CM has been successful. Govt has accepted all demands of Maulana Sb and the dharna is to be called off."

Earlier, Maulana Hidayatur Rehman  said that if Prime Minister Imran Khan had made the announcement, he would have welcomed it. 

Speaking to the journalists, Maualan Hidayatur Rehman Baloch said that they are not stubborn people and they believe in solving problems. “If the problems of Gawadar are solved then who will be happier than us, the problem is only the implementation,” he added. 

Maulana Hidayat also said that if the prime minister has taken notice then implementation is expected, hopefully it will be fulfilled

On the other hand, Prime Minister Imran Khan took notice of the demands of fishermen in Gwadar, assuring that strict action would be taken against the illegal fishing by trawlers.

In a message on Twitter, the prime minister said, “I have taken notice of the very legitimate demands of the hardworking fishermen of Gwadar. Will be taking strong action against illegal fishing by trawlers”.

He also assured them to also speak to the chief minister of Balochistan on the issue.

The fishermen in Gwadar had been protesting against the devastating impact of illegal fishing by trawlers along the coast on the livelihoods of local fishermen. On Friday, tens of thousands of people, including women and children, marched on the main roads and streets of Gwadar in support of their movement launched for the rights of the people of Gwadar.