Train service suspended after dozens hurt in new Chaman clashes

Residents' sit-in has continued in Chaman for the last nine months and now in new clashes between locals and law enforcers dozens of citizens and law personnel were injured while the train service was also suspended on Friday.

According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the locals under the banner of All-Parties Tajar Laghri Ittehad are protesting against the Passport Trolling Policy of the government in Chaman. There was a complete shutdown in the city on the third day and all markets and shops were closed.

The situation in the city is highly tense as the security forces bombarded with shells the protesters while the angry locals stormed the public offices. Clashes between security forces and the protesters continued in the Chaman city.

According to the channel report, 35 protesters, 8 policemen and 10 Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel have been injured in the fresh clashes. Some of the injured persons have been admitted to the hospital.

The residents of Chaman are protesting against the passport system because their houses are in Pakistan but their yards are in Afghanistan. More than 35 thousand people cross the border daily for employment but the last caretaker government's interior minister introduced the passport system and stopped free movement of locals at the Pak-Afghan border which is continued in the sitting elected government. 

A passport is made for one and a half to two lakh rupees in Chaman.
The protesters said forces have attacked the sit-in in Chaman without any aggression from the protesters.

They urged the elected members of Balochistan to raise voices and hold protest on Chaman situation. They also said that the government should apologize to the people of Chaman for attacking the people of Chaman and give compensation. They also emphesised the government and the state to embrace Baloch leaders like Ms Mahrang Baloch and Akhtar Mengal.

Reporter: Najabuddin Achakzai