Chaghi, located in the northwest corner of Balochistan, is the largest district of Pakistan by area. Over a week ago, local drivers involved in border trade were stopped by the Pakistani security personnel from their usual border trade in the Nok Kundi area and were mistreated and misbehaved with. In response to this, the drivers staged a peaceful protest which is the constitutional right of every citizen. Instead of addressing the concerns of the drivers and allowing them to continue their trade were fired at by the security forces. As a result, many drivers including innocent children were injured while a few of them lost their precious lives in firing by the security forces. Neither the victims were against the state nor they were miscreants, they were merely exercising their fundamental and constitutional right to protest against what they believed was unjust.
Furthermore, Balochistan has the highest rate of unemployment in Pakistan and there is not any other reliable source of income which is why the destitute people of Chaghi and other citizens are compelled to do border trade to support and run their families. They face plenty of hurdles while doing the border trade, and are away from their families for many days or weeks to feed families.
Days before the protest in Nok Kundi the drivers were stopped by the security forces who snatched their vehicles’ keys. The innocent drivers were left strained there for few days without food and water and as a result, approximately four innocent drivers lost their lives.
It is now the responsibility of the Government and the judiciary to uphold the rights of the common citizens. They have to understand that without being provided with employment opportunities, the locals of Balochistan are compelled to do border trade to make ends meet, and in doing so, they do not deserve to be humiliated and murdered.
Abrar Tariq
Turbat Kech