The main Quetta-Chaman highway was opened on Sunday after a 24-hour closure by protesters against extortionists.
Hundreds of truck and bus drivers backed by people blocked the National Highway in Killa Abdullah on Saturday against extortion and vehicle snatching in the area. Thousands of vehicles snarled up on both sides of the road. The protesters put barricades on the road and armed tribesmen patrolled the area on foot.
The people, particularly women and children, travelling from Quetta to Afghanistan and vice versa faced difficulties due to the protest.
However, the administration contacted the protesters and after hours-long negotiations, the latter were persuaded to call off their protest by opening the road for public.
Assistant Commissioner Sohail Ansari has been suspended over negligence and inquiry was initiated against him.
Killa Abdullah Deputy Commissioner Dr Bashir Bungali said some tribal elements had started getting extortion from truck and bus drivers, adding that they were also involved in car snatching and abduction. He said when the Levy personnel reached the area the culprits would disappear. He said that the demands of the protestors were genuine and action would be taken against extortionists, abductors and highway robbers.
