QUETTA: One policeman was killed as clashes between police and protesters turned violent in the Pakistani port city of Gwadar on Tuesday, as Internet and mobile shutdowns and protests in the city entered the second day. 

Gwadar is in Pakistan’s impoverished southwestern province of Balochistan, a sparsely populated, mountainous, desert region where China is involved in the development of a deep-sea port on the Arabian Sea as part of a $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

But locals of the city have long complained that Chinese presence and investment in the area has done little to improve their lives, particularly with regards to water scarcity and jobs. Protests against the lack of basic facilities first started in November 2021 under the banner of “Give Gwadar its Rights” but dissipated after the government negotiated with protesters and promised to meet their demands.

Around two months ago, the protests broke out again and have remained peaceful but on Monday, police arrested at least 18 demonstrators they said were trying to block the Gwadar Expressway and moving toward the port. Police also fired tear gas at protesters whose main demands include the provision of basic health and educational facilities, action against illegal trawling, the abolishment of a token system at the Pakistan-Iran border, removal of security check posts in the city and an end to narcotics smuggling.

Balochistan Police said a constable was killed today, Tuesday, when protesters fired directly at the police force in Gwadar. “Constable Yasir was shot by armed protesters while he was performing his duties at Gwadar’s Syed Hashmi Chowk to protect supporters of the “Give Gwadar Its Rights,” a Balochistan Police spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson said the constable suffered a bullet wound to his neck, adding that he succumbed to his injuries at Gwadar’s District Headquarters Hospital.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudus Bizenjo condemned the killing and ordered authorities to submit a report on the incident. Bizenjo directed police to arrest the suspects involved in the incident. 

Ihsan Baloch, a Levis paramilitary soldier, earlier confirmed to Arab News that protesters blocked the coastal highway at Ormara and Sarbandar road. He said the coastal highway was blocked for the movement of vehicles.
 
Protest leader Maulana Hidayat-ur-Rehman accused the state of using force to end what he said was a peaceful protest in Gwadar. He said an operation had been launched against the innocent people of Gwadar.

“The provincial government is oblivious to the situation in Gwadar. If the state is doing the right thing, why did they suspend Internet and mobile services in Gwadar,” he asked in his latest video statement. Rehman vowed to carry on his struggle for the rights of the people of Gwadar.

Provincial Home Minister Meer Zia Langove said the government fulfilled many of the protesters’ demands. However, he said most of their demands were linked to the federal government. 

“The government deputed Levis soldiers with local fishermen to take action against illegal trawling,” Langove said in a video statement on Tuesday. 

“We are ready to work with protesters to discuss their demands with the federal government,” Langove added.