DERA MURAD JAMALI: A brazen armed robbery targeting passengers on the main National Highway near Lamji in Kachhi district sparked public outrage and a major protest on Tuesday, leading to a complete suspension of traffic for hours.
According to details, a group of armed robbers stopped vans and other vehicles, looting the passengers at gunpoint. The bandits made off with cash estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of rupees, dozens of mobile phones, and other valuable belongings. In a further escalation, the assailants also seized a pickup truck from the scene.
The incident provoked immediate and intense anger among the affected travelers and local residents. In a powerful demonstration of their frustration, they blocked the National Highway, causing long queues of vehicles and bringing all vehicular movement to a standstill. The protest was not just against the robbery but also against what the victims alleged was the criminal negligence of local security forces.
Enraged passengers made serious allegations, claiming that personnel from the Levies force were present nearby during the entire robbery but failed to intervene. They stated that despite repeated and desperate calls for help, the law enforcement officials did not respond, leading to accusations of complicity between the police and the criminals.
The situation demanded high-level intervention, with senior administrative and police officials rushing to the site. After holding negotiations with the protesters and assuring them of a thorough investigation and increased security measures, the officials managed to pacify the crowd. Following these assurances, the protesters relented, and the vital national highway was reopened for traffic. The authorities have launched a search operation to apprehend the robbers and recover the stolen goods.
Meanwhile in a significant move, the Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti has taken strict notice of numerous complaints and alleged financial and administrative irregularities plaguing the Chief Minister’s Youth Skills Development and Overseas Employment Program, ordering an immediate and impartial high-level inquiry.
Expressing strong displeasure over negative reports concerning the initiative, the Chief Minister declared that any mismanagement or lack of transparency in public welfare schemes designed for the youth would not be tolerated. The move comes after serious questions were raised about the program’s implementation, casting a shadow over its intended benefits.
