Split in two: Protest in Kohistan continues for fifth day

Demonstrators threaten to block KKH for indefinite period from May 5

KOHISTAN: Landowners in Kohistan continued their protest for the fifth consecutive day on Monday over delays in making the Basri Boundary Commission report public.

They urged the government to settle the boundary dispute once and for all and threatened to block Karakoram Highway (KKH) for an indefinite period from May 15.

The protests started on May 5 when people from various villages of Kohistan set up a camp near Basri Das on the KKH. They blocked traffic for two hours daily in protest against the delay in making the Basri Boundary Commission report public. Landowners also wanted the implementation of a 14-point of charter of demands. In 2014, the charter was accepted by the then chairman of Wapda and the Hazara commissioner.

When approached, QWP Kohistan General Secretary Asadullah Qureshi informed The Express Tribune, “The Basri Boundary Commission, headed by Justice (retd) Tanvir, has completed its report on the boundary dispute between Gilgit-Baltistan and K-P and submitted it to the federal government on June 30, 2015.

The government has not yet made it public deliberately, thus keeping the people of both sides in the dark.”

He said the delay in making the report public could turn into an armed clash between the villagers of Upper Kohistan and G-B.” Qureshi demanded of the government to make the enquiry report public or they would be compelled to block KKH for an indefinite period.

To a question, the QWP general secretary clarified that the actual dispute was over a 2.8-kilometre stretch of land between G-B and Kohistan right from Gadoon Nala to Basri Das, which was in fact a part of Kohistan.

He stated that some bureaucrats on both sides of the border inadvertently or deliberately mentioned it in the documents as 8.2 kilometres, unnecessarily making it an issue between two tribes.

He said that the federal government deployed Rangers in the area to put an end to the long-standing armed territorial conflict between the communities of Diamer in Gilgit and Kohistan districts.

Qureshi maintained, “The last skirmish occurred on March 1, 2014 where six tribespeople from both sides were killed and over two dozen people were injured.” He stated the fulcrum of the dispute started in 2006 when the Basri check post was established on the KKH to Kohistan road from Gilgit-Baltistan.

While speaking to The Express Tribune, Kohistan DPO Ali Rehmat told The Express Tribune, “It is a serious matter.  Delay in sharing the boundary commission report could force the tribes from both sides to indulge in bloodshed.” He added a breakthrough was expected within the next couple of days.

“The actual dispute was over an area of two kilometres. However, the policies of the Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) had extended it to over eight kilometres, which resulted in a dispute between the tribes of Kohistan and G-B.” He believed the matter could be resolved amicably if the report was made public at the earliest.

“The first round of discussions between the Ulema of G-B and Kohistan was completed on Sunday, while a second round will be held later to defuse tension between the two sides. He maintained they also plan to hold a jirga within a couple of days to ensure peace in the area.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2016.