He said, she said: Passengers say convoy system continues on KKH in Kohistan

Accuse Kohistan police, hoteliers of collusion; former accuses G-B of playing role

HARIPUR/ GILGIT: In what appears to be in utter defiance of an apex committee’s decision, police in Kohistan continue to make passengers travel in convoys on Karakoram Highway (KKH).

“The convoy system for buses has not ended in Kohistan,” Rehmat Khalil, a passenger who arrived in Gilgit told The Express Tribune on Monday. “The police there were treating us in the exact same way as they used to earlier,” he said, referring to the announcement made by Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafeezur Rahman to end the convoy system on February 1.

Momin Khan, another passenger said he had travelled on KKH twice this month and each time, his bus was made to travel in a convoy system.

According to passengers, Kohistan police stopped buses at Shakai area of Besham Sunday night and refused to allow them to travel without formation of a convoy. As passengers protested against the police decision, a brawl took place between the two, leading to panic. The police reportedly said they were following orders from the Kohistan DPO.

Imtiaz Kacho, a lawmaker, criticised Rahman’s announcement. “The CM has misguided the public,” Kacho told media in Gilgit on Monday. “The apex committee decision was just eyewash.”

Under the table?

Passengers and drivers believe an underhand deal between Kohistan police and hoteliers is why the convoy system in Kohistan persists.

Dasu DSP Zahidur Rehman has denied any role played by the Kohistan police in the restriction on the buses.

Talking to The Express Tribune, he said following the formation of Karakoram Patrolling Force (KPF), Hazara DIG Akhtar Hayat Khan Gandapur ordered an end to the convoy system. He said not a single vehicle passing through Kohistan has been stopped.

“If the drivers decided to move in groups of four or more as preventive measure, that is an arrangement they made and has nothing to do with the police,” said Zahid.

Precautionary measures

A police official in Kohistan, requesting anonymity, said restrictions on buses were on the directives of G-B police. He said following threats, the GB administration asked Kohistan police to not allow passenger buses to enter from Chakahee post 12:30pm since allowing passenger buses travel after 5 pm in the territory could be dangerous and risky.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2016.