Chaos at Quetta Railway Station: Protests and Recent Blast Aftermath

In Quetta, Pakistan, the railway station became a scene of chaos as over 1,000 passengers were left stranded due to a protest by railway employees. The protest, reported by ARY News, involved demonstrators blocking tracks, causing delays for key trains like the Chaman Passenger, Jafar Express, and Bolan Mail for up to four hours. The protest was triggered by the alleged demolition of employee housing boundaries on Zarghoon Road during a road expansion project.

Passengers, already frustrated by limited transport options, expressed their struggles. One stranded passenger remarked, "Even trains aren't reliable now." Railway unions accused project officials of unlawful actions and demanded judicial intervention. After negotiations, the protest was paused for two days, allowing train services to resume.

Previously, on November 15, train services in Quetta were restored after a four-day suspension following a deadly blast. The explosion at Quetta Railway Station in Balochistan province claimed at least 26 lives and injured 62 others. In response, decisive steps were planned to combat terrorism, with intelligence-based operations set to expand.

Mohsin Naqvi announced federal support for Balochistan to tackle terrorism, prioritizing resource allocation. The United States condemned the November 9 bombing, with Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel expressing condolences and emphasizing a shared commitment to regional security.