Multiple blasts rock Quetta on Akbar Bugti’s death anniversary

A shutter down strike was observed across Balochistan on the sixth death anniversary of slain Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti on Sunday, as several blasts rocked the provincial capital late on Saturday night, injuring seven people.
The Jamhoori Watan Party and Balochistan Republican Party had given the call for the strike and announced to observe “black day” across the province to protest against Bugti’s death.
Almost all Baloch nationalist and separatist groups, including the Balochistan National Party, Baloch National Front, Awami National Party, National Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Jamaat-e-Islami, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, trader unions and transporters supported the strike call.
In Quetta, all shops, business centers, shopping malls and markets located on Jinnah Road, Sharah-e-Iqbal, Liaqat Bazaar, Prince Road, Abdul Sattar Road, Sariab, Double Road and other localities remained closed throughout the day.
The roads and streets wore a deserted look due to the strike, however, light traffic started plying the roads in the afternoon.
Police, Frontier Corps and other law enforcement agencies were deployed in all major parts of the provincial capital, while security was also tightened on all entrance and exit points.
A shutter down and wheel-jam strike was also observed in other districts, including Mastung, Kalat, Khuzdar, Lasbella, Nushki, Chagai, Washuk, Kech Gwadar, Panjgour, Naseerabad, Jaffarabad and other areas where shopping centers and other business activities came to a complete standstill.
Activists of JWP and BRP separately organized demonstrations and held seminars to pay tribute to the sacrifices rendered by Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti for the sake of Balochistan.
The JWP also organized a protest demonstration outside the Quetta Press Club that was attended by a large number of people.
Addressing a press conference, Talal Akbar Bugti, son of Nawab Akbar Bugti, thanked all people, businessmen and transporters for the strike.
He said that PPP also supported the strike call, adding that Nawab Bugti was killed through a conspiracy to deteriorate the situation of Balochistan.
He criticized the PPP government, saying it had failed to provide security to the people.
In the evening, a condolence meeting was held at the residence of late Nawab Akbar Bugti.
Bugti was killed along with his companions during a military operation in the mountains of Kohlu district on August 26, 2006.
Meanwhile, multiple grenade attacks in various areas of Quetta left seven people injured.
Three grenade explosions took place in Kali Barat area of Quetta. Sources said three houses situated in a lane were targeted in the attack. Three people, including a woman, were injured as a result.
According to police, a rocket was fired from unknown location on the house of a man Aslam in Kali Barat area of Jinnah town, injuring a woman and a kid.
Another explosion took place when unidentified outlaws hurled a hand grenade on a house in the same area, damaging a wall of the house.
Another explosion near Quetta’s Ayub Stadium injured four people.
Also, a bomb explosion near the railway track at Chaman Phatak area of Quetta, injured an FC man and damaged a two-foot length of the track.