Pakistan: Thousands protest in Balochistan against needless checkpoints & unlawful fishing

In Gwar area of Balochistan province in Pakistan, tens of thousands of people have protested and organised a sit-in against unnecessary checkpoints. sit-in entered its third day on Saturday, as per reports of  Express Tribune. Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman, Provincial General Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Balochistan, organised demonstration, which was initiated by locals.

protestors want all needless checkpoints removed, as well as fishing of deep-sea trawlers in area, which is inflicting substantial losses to local fisherman. As demonstrators refused to stop, a delegation dispatched by Pakistan's Balochistan province's Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Aylani returned empty-handed. protest will be held until government resolves se issues, according to activists.

Hundreds of people protest unlawful fishing by Chinese trawlers

Hundreds of people protested unlawful fishing by Chinese trawlers in Gwar, Pakistan, in August. China announced $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project in Pakistan in 2015, which includes Balochistan. It will connect Pakistan's sourn Gwar port in Balochistan to China's western Xinjiang area on Arabian Sea. It also has proposals to expand connection between China and Middle East by building a ro, rail and oil pipeline links.

presence of CPEC fishing trawlers has generated quite a stir among residents of Balochistan's coastal villages, as fishing is ir main source of income, according to Dawn. Protesters claim that this of fishing is killing marine life and robbing local fishermen of ir livelihood.

Balochs were vocal in ir opposition to China's growing presence in area. people in Balochistan have not benefited from CPEC, while citizens in or provinces have reaped benefits.

Jamaat-e-Islami to bring up issue at upcoming Islamab sit-in on November 28

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Secretary-General Ameerul Azim said in a statement on Friday that locals are not making irrational requests. According to him, y have been fighting for ir rights for a long time, but authorities have never paid attention to poor and underprivileged masses' problems.

He stated that Jamaat-e-Islami would bring up issue at upcoming Islamab sit-in on November 28, according to News International. He predicted negative consequences if ministration continued to dismiss protestors' legitimate demands. He also stated that people have resorted to violence after losing faith in democratic system.

(Inputs from ANI)

Image: AP/ PTI