At least 200 workers from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) were arrested on Sunday for participating in protests over alleged election rigging in Balochistan’s capital.
Authorities imposed Section 144 to prevent large gatherings. SSP Operations Quetta, Asif Khan, said police acted to maintain law and order as protesters attempted to disrupt the city.
The demonstrations were organized by Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Aain Pakistan (Movement for the Protection of the Constitution), which called for a city-wide shutdown to protest election rigging allegations. Quetta and other cities in Balochistan witnessed a “shutter-down” strike, closing major commercial centers. Normally, Sunday is a business day, but traders observed the shutdown in solidarity with the protests.
Protesters blocked key roads and highways, setting up barricades that caused severe traffic disruption. Police responded with tear gas shells to disperse the crowds and arrested hundreds of participants violating Section 144.
Most arrested individuals were affiliated with PKMAP, though a notable number belonged to PTI. Traffic in Quetta city and national highways linking northern regions remained heavily disrupted throughout the day.
Mobile phone internet services were suspended in Quetta at around 2:00 PM as a security measure and restored at 9:30 PM, cutting off residents and businesses from digital communication for several hours.
The protests reflect rising tension over political processes in the province. Leaders of PTI and PKMAP have demanded a transparent investigation to address concerns over election rigging and called for the release of all detained protesters.
Authorities emphasized that law enforcement would continue monitoring the situation to prevent further disturbances, ensuring that protests remain peaceful and do not affect public safety.
The incident marks one of the largest crackdowns in Quetta in recent months, highlighting the ongoing political unrest in Balochistan surrounding electoral disputes.
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