GWADAR, Dec.8 (INP): "China is our friend and we are not at all against China, China-led development, and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in Gwadar.

Gwadar protest and sit-in are not aversive to Gwadar Port being operated by the Chinese company China Overseas Port Holding Company, rather it aims to seek rights to live a life that every Pakistani deserves," said Maulana Hadayat ur Rehman, supreme leader of Gwadar sit-in protest in an exclusive interview with Gwadar Pro.

Sharing his views, he said that he rejected the western-propelled agenda trying to paint 23-day long sit-in as hostile to China.

"Let me tell you categorically that we are demonstrating to reclaim our basic rights enshrined in the constitution of Pakistan," he added.

Another leader said that during the sit-in, protestors did not block the Eastbay Expressway being constructed by Gwadar Port Authority under CPEC and this gesture showed loud and clear that the protest never wanted to disrupt ongoing development work.

He shrugged off all conspiracy theories and spilled the beans that once demands put forth before the government was met, protestors would disperse peacefully.

China Overseas Port Holding Company officials said that sit-in leadership had cleared in the beginning that protest would never pose any tension for China. "They consider China and COPHC as their friends," they added.

Since the protest was launched, the port functioned as per routine and never got disrupted, they further clarified.

INP/javed