QUETTA – The protest appeal issued by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for August 5th failed to generate any significant response in Balochistan.
Despite strong instructions from PTI’s provincial leadership urging district-level bodies to mobilize supporters, there was no turnout on the ground.
Reports indicate that many key figures went missing on the day of the protest, with their phones switched off.
Across several cities including Nushki, Kohlu, Kachhi, Kech, Gwadar, Khuzdar, Awaran, Barkhan, Kharan, Panjgur, Kalat, Mastung, Chaman, and others, no rallies, gatherings, or demonstrations were observed. The protest call, originally announced two weeks earlier by PTI founder Imran Khan, was meant to be a nationwide show of strength, but in Balochistan, it fell flat.
Sources reveal growing disappointment among PTI activists with both the provincial and national leadership.
Public sentiment suggests increasing disillusionment with PTI’s current narrative, which some liken to that of the defunct BYC.
Citizens appear unwilling to support any further movements that risk unrest or instability, having already endured significant turmoil.
However, some violent protestant near Dera Ghazi Khan have blocked the Punjab-Balochistan Road.
The traffic halt caused a lot of fatigue and anxiety for thousands of passengers on the national highway.
Not a single leaf moved in Kharan district on the call for protest by the founder of PTI, people are busy with their daily lives, there is no sign of protest in Qasim Chowk Kharan.
In Usta Mohammad Pakistan Zindabad rally was organized.
The protestant carried banners and placards in support of the the armed forces.
The chanted slogans in favor of the armed forces of Pakistan.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf workers attempted to hold a protest rally and close the market in Kohlu, but due to the low number of people, the rally was limited to the PTI office. The rally lacked the expected enthusiasm and public participation was disappointing. However, the market remained open and normal life resumed.
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PTI’s protest in Chaman lacked public participation, with only 30 people formally participating and the demonstration ending after a distance of twenty meters. Business centers remained open as usual, the demonstration exposed local political weakness.
In contrast to the PTI protests across the country, complete silence was observed in Kech district and Turbat city. There was no protest, nor any condemnation. Political circles are calling it a reflection of the party’s weakness and lack of public support at the local level.
The reports claims that the central leadership is extremely annoyed with PTI Balochistan for not being able to carry out any notable protest whatsoever at any place despite that fact that the protest was called as a national movement.
