Quetta protest by relatives of Ziarat victims enters 3rd day

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QUETTA:

The sit-in by relatives of seven police personnel martyred in Mangi area of Ziarat, held with the coffins of the deceased at Samungli Road's Coal Phatak, continued for the third consecutive day on Saturday.

The protest drew strong support from political parties and civil society. Leaders including Balochistan National Party chief Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal, PkMAP Central Secretary Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal, ANP Balochistan President Asghar Khan Achakzai, and PkMAP Provincial President Nasrullah Khan Zayray, along with workers from various political groups and members of civil society, visited the site to express solidarity with the grieving families.

Late Friday night, on the directives of Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, Provincial Interior Minister Mir Ziaullah Langau visited the protest camp. He held detailed talks with the bereaved families and political leadership, listening to their demands.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Minister Langau strongly condemned the tragic incident, saying "no amount of condemnation is enough." He expressed the government's sympathies with the families and said that work had already begun on fulfilling most of their demands, while discussions were underway regarding the remaining ones.

"The martyrs and the people sitting on the dharna are our own," Langau said, adding that Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti had constituted a commission to investigate the incident. "Whoever is found responsible will be held accountable," he assured.

The minister said the demands raised by the families would be presented before the Chief Minister for further deliberation and expressed hope that negotiations with the protesters would soon yield positive results.