Affiliation cites huge losses from burned vans and compelled bribes; calls for probe
Vans transporting Afghan nationals, who have been expelled from Pakistan, are parked as refugees look ahead to registration on the Omari refugee camp in Mohmand Dara, Torkham border, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, April 15, 2025 Photograph: Reuters
The Balochistan Items Truck Homeowners Affiliation introduced on Tuesday it could droop the loading and transportation of chromite, marble and different minerals throughout the province, citing repeated assaults on autos, lack of safety, and widespread extortion by numerous parts.
Addressing a press convention on the Quetta Press Membership, Affiliation President Haji Noor Muhammad Shahwani stated transporters suffered losses price thousands and thousands of rupees as a result of burning of vans and bursting of tyres. He warned that any truck or firm proprietor who masses minerals could be solely accountable for any revenue or loss.
“From in the present day onward, no truck will load chromite or marble from Dalbandin, Nokkundi, Muslim Bagh or Loralai,” Shahwani declared. Loading of meals gadgets and different basic items will, nonetheless, proceed as regular.
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He stated the assaults had been occurring for a very long time on nationwide highways. Current incidents have been reported in areas together with Mastung, Khad Kocha, Armagai in Kharan district, Washuk, and Khuzdar, the place practically a dozen vans have been focused. Eight vans have been set on fireplace whereas the remaining sustained injury to their tyres.
Shahwani complained that neither the mine contractors and house owners nor the provincial authorities had supplied any assist or compensation to the affected transporters, turning mineral transport into an insufferable ordeal.
He additional alleged that no freeway in Balochistan was protected. Looting occurred in broad daylight at gunpoint, with cash being forcibly taken from vans and buses. At a number of examine posts, together with Rukshan, Barori, Barija in Jhal Magsi district, Rakhni, and Dana Sar, personnel allegedly compelled parked meals vans to give up diesel.
The affiliation chief additionally pointed to “humiliating” behaviour by the station home officer of Sakran Police Station at Hub Chowki in direction of transporters. He claimed that vans and trailers heading from Balochistan to Karachi have been usually subjected to extortion.
Regardless of directives issued by the chief minister to finish police and different departments’ extortion tradition and take away unlawful examine posts, the apply continued unabated, he added.
Shahwani additionally raised the problem of a latest fireplace on the Lakpass Customs Warehouse, by which transporters’ autos price billions of rupees have been destroyed. He demanded the formation of a high-level inquiry committee below the supervision of the Balochistan Excessive Court docket to research the incident and take motion towards these accountable.
