Quetta Sit-In Ends After Govt Deal With Martyred Police Families

Families of policemen martyred in Balochistan’s recent terrorist violence have ended their 10-day sit-in in Quetta after reaching an agreement with the provincial government. The protest, held at Koila Phatak with the bodies of the martyrs, was called off on Saturday after late-night negotiations produced commitments on inquiry, recognition and welfare measures.

The sit-in had become one of the most visible public responses to the deadly Ziarat attack, in which 27 policemen were martyred on July 6. Families and supporters had gathered in the provincial capital since July 9, demanding justice, accountability and formal state recognition for the personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty.

According to the protest committee, the bodies of seven martyrs were moved to their native areas after the agreement was finalised, while Koila Phatak was reopened for traffic. The committee said the government had accepted all key demands, including the formation of a judicial commission to investigate both the Ziarat police attack and the Hanna Urak incident.

The agreement was signed by Balochistan Home Minister Ziaullah Langove on behalf of the government, while Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Secretary General Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal signed for the protesting families. The provincial authorities also began implementing parts of the agreement immediately, including the decision to rename Koila Phatak Chowk as Shuhada-i-Ziarat Chowk.

Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said the government would honour its promises to the bereaved families and ensure that the sacrifices of the martyrs are remembered with dignity. He described the fallen policemen as a source of pride for the nation and said public institutions would be renamed to preserve their memory for future generations.

Official notifications also outlined plans to rename police stations, schools and healthcare centres in Ziarat district after individual martyrs. These include several police stations, government schools and basic health facilities, reflecting an effort to turn symbolic recognition into a visible part of the district’s public landscape.

The Ziarat attack came amid a broader wave of violence in Balochistan. On July 5, armed men attacked the Hanna Urak Valley area near Quetta, killing five tribesmen, injuring others and abducting several people. A day later, the Mangi Dam police post in Ziarat was targeted, with nine police personnel killed on the spot and 18 others later martyred after being kidnapped.

Security forces subsequently launched Operation Shaban in response to the attacks, and authorities reported dozens of militants killed during the clearance operation. The violence intensified public anger in Balochistan, where families of victims have demanded transparent investigations, stronger security planning and better protection for personnel deployed in high-risk areas.

The end of the sit-in may ease immediate pressure in Quetta, but it does not close the larger questions surrounding militant activity, policing capacity and public confidence in the province. The next test for the Balochistan government will be the timely creation of the judicial commission, transparent progress on the investigation and full implementation of commitments made to the martyrs’ families.