GILGIT:
The Gilgit-Baltistan government announced on Monday the formation of a special highway task force to monitor the security situation on the Karakoram Highway (KKH).
“The task force will be led by a serving major of the Pakistan Army while Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts, Frontier Constabulary (FC) and elite units of the police force will be part of it,” said G-B Education Minister Ali Madad Sher, while talking to the media after chairing a cabinet meeting.
This was the first cabinet meeting held since sectarian violence gripped the region, claiming more than 20 lives and bringing everyday life to a complete standstill.
Ali Madad Sher, who is also the provincial spokesperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), asserted that security checkposts will be established every 8-10 kilometres along the KKH since traffic remains suspended on the vital trade route in the aftermath of the sectarian turbulence.
“This will ensure a smooth flow of traffic as well as trading goods to G-B,” he said.
When asked whether any efforts have been made to arrest those responsible for the unrest, Sher asserted that 20 ‘most wanted’ criminals have been nabbed.
Jirga convention
In order to restore peace in the region, Sher said that a Jirga, comprising 20 representatives from both Sunni and Shia sects, will be convened soon.
“Another seven arrests will be made shortly from the Nagar area, where the army is constantly holding negotiations with tribal elders,” he added.
The minister further said that cellular networks will soon be restored G the areas of Ghizer, Astore and Skardu. “In Gilgit, the process will take some more time,” he added, cautiously.
The minister further said that the curfew would remain in place in Gilgit during night time until complete peace is restored in the area. He added that a judicial commission would be constituted soon to thoroughly investigate the causes that led to the sectarian pandemonium.
“Fifty-seven prisoners have also been moved from the sub-jail where they had been kept previously, after authorities decided to abolish the prison facility,” Sher revealed.
Inmates of a particular sect were being kept in the prison.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 24th, 2012.
COMMENTS (4)
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We, the people of Gilgit, are very loyal to our country Pakistan. But we are still unable to understand why our establishment is supporting Taliban and Wahabis. Why our government is not giving security to our people, who are killed in Parachinar, Quetta, Karachi and Gilgit. I request, media to highlight the biased attitude of government towards a specific sect. We are continuously receiving dead bodies, still security forces are arresting our people.
PREADVISORY TO KKH TRAVELERS: The Pakistani Military will be withdrawn after Indian - Pakistan Diplomatic Agreements on Kashmir are completed in negotiations to start next month.
Government is absolutely not interested in protecting the public while travelling on KKH. Establishing a check post after 8-10 km will not help in preventing the slaughtering of people in areas like Chilas and Kohistan. Government should destroy the safe heavens and training camps of militants in Diamer and Darail areas of GB for long lasting peace in the region, having a strategic importance. Two months have gone since the tragedy of Kohistan. Security forces are failed to arrest even a single person. This shows the sincerity of government and law enforcement agencies for dealing the menace of terrorism.
It is another short sighted decision uless the safe heavens of terrorists and evil minds still getting protocols in Pakistan. I am sorry to say, but the world is right to this extend that the Jihad to rescue those countries where we earned nothing more than hate is now haunting e everyday. I doubt if we participated in those wars of neighbors with only dedication as muslims, most of those pusshers of Jihad have earned lot of dollars while the poor families of those ignorants got nothing more than some thousands.