Balochistan : Balochistan observed a province-wide shutdown and wheel-jam strike called by the All Parties Coalition, effectively halting traffic and business from Zhob to Gwadar, according to The Balochistan Post (TBP).
Security forces, including police and levies, conducted a sweeping crackdown, arresting numerous political leaders and activists across Quetta and other districts. In Quetta alone, over 100 demonstrators were detained from areas such as Sariab, Airport Road, Brewery, Bypass, and central districts. Prominent detainees included leaders from the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Balochistan National Party (BNP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Awami National Party (ANP), National Party (NP), and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).
Similar arrests occurred across multiple districts: in Surab, BNP’s district president and three workers were taken into custody; in Mastung, BNP and NP district presidents were among 14 arrested; in Loralai, seven activists from ANP and PkMAP were detained. Arrests were also reported in Jafarabad, Nasirabad, Duki, Ziarat (Sanjawi), Qalat, and Chaman, with dozens of party workers taken into custody.
ANP’s provincial president accused authorities of using excessive force to suppress a peaceful demonstration, noting repeated tear gas shelling near PkMAP’s Quetta office. He described the strike as “the most successful in Balochistan’s history,” shutting down businesses and transport links and calling it a “referendum” against what he described as an imposed government.
The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) condemned the crackdown as “an attack on democracy and human rights,” criticizing the government for failing to protect citizens from terrorism while targeting peaceful demonstrators. BYC highlighted that repeated crackdowns on political activists in recent months threaten provincial stability and urged all political groups and the public to unite against oppressive policies.