10-year-old Muhammad Maswar, a third-grade student, was abducted from Quetta on November 15. (Photo:
In many cities of Balochistan, including Quetta, a strike is being held against the abduction of abducted student Muhammad Maswar.
Protesters have blocked the national highways at three places in Quetta near Balili, Mian Ghandi and Dasht. Similarly, national highways in other cities including Pashin, Qila Saifullah, Loralai, Ziarat, Chaman, Qila Abdullah are closed for all types of traffic.
The railway authorities also canceled the passenger train from Quetta to Chaman.
Due to the protest, the government has announced a general holiday in public and private educational institutions across the province. The examination papers have also been postponed.
Mohammad Maswar, the ten-year-old son of a well-known businessman from Quetta, was abducted by unknown persons on November 15, against which a protest sit-in has been going on in Quetta for the past one week.
The call for the strike has been given by the Dharna Committee, which has been supported by political parties, traders and transporters’ organizations of the province.
Muhammad Maswar was abducted from Quetta’s Multani neighborhood on November 15 when he was going to school from home.
According to the police, Muhammad Maswar was riding in a school van, three armed accused stopped the van at gunpoint and took the child down and put him in another car.
Muhammad Maswar’s father, Raz Muhammad Kakar, is a big Saraf (jeweler) of Quetta and has a shop in Liaquat Bazar, an important area of the city.
The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan had taken notice of the kidnapping of the student.
Quetta Police says that efforts are being made to recover the kidnapped student, but no significant progress is being seen so far.
Police say that till now the family members of the accused have not received a call to pay the ransom.
