In Gilgit-Baltistan, unfortunately protests are perceived as unlawful & the state comes down on them with an iron hand
ISLAMABAD: An anti-terrorism court in Gilgit recently sentenced 12 people to several years in prison and also imposed heavy fines on them. They have been convicted of shooting at police officials whereas the reality is different. They were merely protesting the government’s failure to fulfil its commitments to the local population of Gilgit-Baltistan regarding the Attabad disaster and the lake that was formed as a result. The truth is that the police shot at the protesters and killed two of them, after which the rest of the protestors became charged and damaged several government properties.
With due respect, the Honourable Court could have looked into these facts and considered them when giving its decision. We should look at the example set by the recent political crisis in Britain where the Scottish people demanded a referendum to decide their future and they got it from the government. Similarly, in the case of the PAT and PTI dharnas, we see the government, by and large, exercising restraint.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, unfortunately protests are perceived as unlawful, both by civil society and the government and whenever they hold protests, the state comes down on them with an iron hand. May I, as a citizen, ask whether any justice was dispensed to the policemen who killed the protesters?
Masood Karim
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2014.
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