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       QUETTA: A wheel-jam strike will be observed in Balochistan on Monday on a joint call for protest given by various political parties, traders, transporters, civil society against the kidnapping of 10-year-old student.

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       In a statement, the originators of a protest sit-in at Zarghoon Unity Chowk said that there would be no traffic on national highways, as major cities would observe a complete wheel-jam strike against government’s failure to recover the student.

       For past 10 days, sit-ins were being held in Quetta to press the authorities concerned to ensure safe recovery of the abducted child.

       Musawir Khan, son of a jeweller, was kidnapped on his way to school in a van.

       Armed men intercepted the vehicle near his home in the Patel Bagh area and abducted him on Nov 15.

       Schools, colleges to remain shut today

       In Quetta, Nasarullah Zerey, the provincial president of Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party, along with leaders of the multiparty alliance, representatives of the business community at the protest camp, last week announced that a strike would be observed across the province today (November 25).

       Other leaders present at the protest camp included Ghulam Nabi Marri of BNP-Mengal, Abdul Rahim Kakar, president of Anjuman Tajran, Rashid Nasir of ANP, Haji Abdul Baqi Kakar and Changez Hayee Baloch.

       Expressing strong reservations over the performance of law enforcement agencies which failed to trace the abducted child’s whereabouts, Mr Zerey said all highways would be blocked across the province on Monday.

       Schools closed today

       In a late-night move, the Balochistan education department announced closure of all educational institutions across the province today.

       Private schools, colleges and universities also announced holiday.

       According to an official notification issued late on Sunday, in view of the wheel jam strike call given by the transporters, it was anticipated that public transport would not be operational.

       The notification said that the situation was likely to cause significant inconvenience to students, parents, teachers and the general public.

       In view of the situation it was decided to close all educational institutions, including those in cantonment area, on Nov 25.

       Earlier, on Nov 21, the Supreme Court constitutional bench sought a report about the child who was abducted from Quetta.

       At a hearing, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail noted that Quetta had come to a standstill due to protests held by citizens against the abduction but it seemed the provincial government was least bothered.

       Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2024