The Pulse | Politics | South Asia

What Happened to Gwadar’s Rights Movement?

Haq Do Tehreek, the movement that once brought the world’s attention to Gwadar’s longstanding grievances, is a pale shadow of its former self.

Residents of Gwadar participate in a Haq do Tehreek protest at Gwadar in Pakistan, Nov. 20, 2022,

In November 2021, thousands of people rallied and participated in sit-ins along Gwadar’s Harbor Road, demanding rights for the local Baloch people. What came to be known as the “Haq Do Tehreek” (Give Us Our Rights Movement) began mainly as a movement of the fishing community to address their grievances. But soon, women, children, men, and people from different walks of life joined the protests, making it the largest mass mobilization in the history of Gwadar.

Gwadar is not just another town or port. Located on Pakistan’s Makran coast, it sits near the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz. Its proximity to this strategic waterway through which a significant amount of the world’s oil and gas passes, and China’s investment and foothold at its port, have cemented Gwadar’s role not only in regional trade but also in global maritime geopolitics.

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In November 2021, thousands of people rallied and participated in sit-ins along Gwadar’s Harbor Road, demanding rights for the local Baloch people. What came to be known as the “Haq Do Tehreek” (Give Us Our Rights Movement) began mainly as a movement of the fishing community to address their........

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