Protests in Shangla as bodies of slain miners arrive from Balochistan

BISHAM/ALPURI: The bodies of six coal miners, who were killed in an explosion in Balochistan, were brought back to their hometown in Shangla amid protests.

A collective funeral prayer was held in Lilonai, where grieving families and community members paid their final respects.

Protests erupted across Shangla district, including Alpuri, Lilonai, and Shahrag, following the tragic killing of 12 coal miners in a terrorist attack in Shahrag, Balochistan.

The demonstrators demanded immediate justice, calling on the Balochistan government to arrest those responsible for the attack and ensure the safety of coal miners working in the province.

Hundreds of protesters, including labour unions, traders, transport associations, and civil society members, gathered in the streets, blocking major highways for hours. The demonstrators demanded that the families of the slain miners be given a martyrs’ package and that labourers from Shangla working in Balochistan’s coal mines receive proper security, healthcare, and legal protection.

Addressing the protesters, the speakers condemned the frequent tragedies faced by Shangla’s coal miners, who regularly lose their lives due to toxic gas leaks, mine collapses, and now, terrorist attacks. “How many more of our workers have to die before authorities take action?” said one of the speakers.

In Shahrag, another protest was held where demonstrators burned tires and blocked the Quetta highway, demanding a transparent investigation into the attack. They insisted that the government take responsibility and prevent such incidents from happening again.

The protesters warned that if their demands were not met, they would escalate their movement. They vowed not to remain silent as innocent laborers continue to lose their lives due to criminal negligence and lack of security.