Islamabad: The provincial government in Pakistan’s Balochistan has imposed a curfew and banned protests in the port city of Gwadar following the death of a policeman in violent clashes with protesters this week. The protesters belonging to Haq Do Tehreek (HDT), led by Maulana Hidayatur Rahman, have been protesting against illegal fishing by mechanized boats replacing local fishermen for almost two months.
The local fishermen of this area have been dependent on the fishing trade for generations for their livelihood. The usually peaceful protests turned violent this week when police tried to disperse protesters, resulting in clashes that left a policeman dead on Tuesday.
Police spokesman Aslam Khan said that constable Yasir was shot in the neck after violence broke out during the demonstration at Hashmi Chowk and died on the spot. Balochistan’s Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove said that the provincial government has already accepted all the demands of the HDT and there is no reason to protest.
