After 17 Years, Quetta’s Red Zone Finally Reopened

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo ordered the Red Zone on the city’s major thoroughfare, Zarghoon Road, to be opened to traffic on Sunday.

Around 17 years ago, the Red Zone was restricted to the general public. All barriers and obstacles have now been removed, and the entrances to the city have been opened to the public.

Governor Syed Zahoor Ahmed Agha and Mr Bizenjo appeared in the Red Zone and announced the removal of all obstacles from the area where important installations such as the Governor and Chief Minister Houses, the Balochistan Civil Secretariat, and the residences of the chief secretary, inspector general of Balochistan police, and many ministers are located.

Some vehicles, like auto-rickshaws, were prohibited from entering the Red Zone, and demonstrators were also prohibited from entering.

After a suicide assault near the IG police’s official house, the Red Zone was established 17 years ago to address security issues. Many people were killed in the incident.

Then Mushtaq Sukhera, the Inspector General of Police, fled the onslaught. During the attack, the IG house and other elements of the Governor House were severely destroyed.

During his visit to Quetta and other parts of the province, CM Bizenjo also instructed the police not to obstruct roads for traffic.

CM assures of safety to Fazl

Meanwhile, CM Bizenjo stated that during JUI-F president Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s travel to Quetta and Chaman, the government will provide him with total protection.

“It is the provincial government’s obligation to offer the utmost workable protection to all political leaders in the province,” the chief minister said in a press conference on Sunday.

He said that the administration had warned the Maulana about the threat of terrorism ahead of his tour to Quetta and Chaman.

“Now it’s up to him whether or not he wants to visit Chaman,” he added, adding that the government will uphold its obligation to provide the JUI-F leader with the best possible protection.

In response to a query concerning recent terrorist assaults in various parts of the province, he stated the terrorists intended to hold the people of the province captive, but that members of the security forces would frustrate their plans.

“Terrorism would only affect the Baloch people,” Mr Bizenjo said, adding that the people of the province support the armed forces who are risking their lives to defend the nation.