The article below was published by the Daily Times.

A complete shutter-down strike was observed in major parts of Balochistan on Saturday condemning the killing of Balochistan National Party (BNP) leader Mir Juma Khan Raisani. Raisani was one of the most senior leaders of the BNP and was gunned down in Gizigi area of Khuzdar on Friday. He was on his way back home after offering Friday prayers when an unidentified gunman opened fire on his vehicle, killing him and his three companions instantly.

Business and trade activities in Khuzdar, Nal, Zehri, Mastung, Kalat, Wadh, Kalat, Surab, Awaran and Lasbela areas came to a complete halt as a result of the strike, which was called by the BNP to condemn the killing.

All shops, markets, commercial establishments, banks and even chemist shops and restaurants remained closed. Traffic was thin on the roads and strict security measures were put in place in districts to avoid any untoward incident and to maintain order. The BNP has announced a protest schedule in a statement issued on Friday. The strike will be observed in Naushki, Dalbandin, Kharan and Washuk areas on July 24, July 25 in Makuran Division, July 26 in Naseerabad Division, July 29 in Quetta Division and protest rallies all over Balochistan on July 30.

Meanwhile, the BNP staged a protest demonstration in front of the Quetta Press Club and raised slogns against the provincial government and law enforcement agencies. Addressing the protestors, BNP Central Information Secretary Agha Hassan said that Baloch nationalist leaders are being targeted because of their struggle for their right to self-determination. “The political movement will not be stopped or deterred by targeted killings and dumping the mutilated bodies of Baloch political opponents,” he said, adding it was the PPP government which had carried out a brutal operation in the 1970s and was again carrying out Balochs’ genocide.