QUETTA — A 10-day sit-in protest at Quetta’s Koila Phatak was officially called off on Saturday morning after the Balochistan provincial government reached an agreement with the families of martyred police personnel late Friday night.
The demonstrators, who had been protesting alongside the bodies of their loved ones since July 9, dispersed peacefully as the provincial administration agreed to fulfill all their demands, including the formation of a high-level judicial commission. Following the breakthrough, the bodies of seven martyrs were transported to their native towns for burial, and the critical traffic junction at Koila Phatak was reopened to the public.
Background of the Crisis
The prolonged sit-in was triggered by a rapid sequence of violent attacks in early July that claimed the lives of 32 security personnel and civilians:
- July 5 (Hanna Urak Valley): Armed militants attacked the outskirts of Quetta, killing five tribesmen, injuring eight, and abducting 11 others. The families of these victims held a separate five-day sit-in on Airport Road, which concluded on July 10 following the safe return of the 11 hostages.
- July 6 (Ziarat District): Terrorists launched a massive assault on a police security post at the Mangi Dam pumping station. Nine police officers were martyred on the spot, and 18 others were abducted and subsequently executed.
In response to the Ziarat massacre, the Pakistan Armed Forces launched a sweeping, days-long counter-insurgency operation named Operation Shaban, which resulted in the elimination of 91 terrorists as of Thursday.
Terms of the Government-Demonstrator Agreement
The formal agreement was finalized and signed by Balochistan Home Minister Ziaullah Langove on behalf of the state, and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Secretary General Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal representing the victims’ families.
Key Terms of the Agreement
1. Judicial Investigation: Establishment of a judicial commission to probe the security lapses in Ziarat and Hanna Urak.
2. Institutional Renaming: Modifying the names of public infrastructure to honor the fallen officers.
3. Traffic Clearance: Immediate reopening of the Koila Phatak transit route.
Institutional Renaming Initiatives
To preserve the legacy of the fallen officers, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti ordered the immediate renaming of several prominent public facilities and police stations across Ziarat and Quetta:
| Original Landmark / Facility Name | New Dedicated Name |
|---|---|
| Koila Phatak Chowk (Quetta) | Shuhada-i-Ziarat Chowk |
| Sarmaksi Police Station | Shaheed Hasratullah Kakar Police Station |
| Dosarka Shabozai Police Station | Shaheed Jandad Khan Police Station |
| Mangi Police Station | Shaheed Zainullah Panezai Police Station |
| Zandra Police Station | Shaheed Major Zaman Panezai Police Station |
| Govt. Boys High School Kan Depo | Shaheed Constable Mustafa Khan GBHS Kan Depo |
| Rural Health Centre Ahmadun | Shaheed Constable Azhar Ahmed Ahmad Damar RHC |
Chief Minister Bugti reaffirmed that public naming initiatives serve as a meaningful tribute to ensure the nation remembers those who stood between peaceful populations and asymmetric warfare. He guaranteed that the financial and welfare packages committed to the grieving families would be processed transparently without administrative delays.
