Gilgit-Baltistan security: Twenty vehicles to be returned to owners

Officials say using fewer vehicles will spare the govt huge expenses.

GILGIT:

In a bid to reduce expenses on internal security, the Gilgit-Baltistan government has slashed the number of vehicles hired for the purpose.

“At least 20 vehicles have been returned to their owners,” said a senior government official on Saturday, adding that a huge amount will be available to the government after these vehicles are released from their 24-hour duty.

Earlier, Gilgit’s security forces used 120 vehicles to patrol the city where recent sectarian violence left several people dead. The total number of vehicles at the forces’ disposal is now 100.

According to official sources, nearly Rs600 million were spent on securing all districts of Gilgit-Baltistan.

Over the past five years, sources said, Rs120 million were spent annually to maintain law and order only in Gilgit. This figure, an official of the district administration said, includes fuel and other allowances.

Legislators in Gilgit-Baltistan have also demanded that expenditure on internal security should be reduced and have termed it unnecessary.

Following the murder of a cleric in 2005, the government had sought assistance from Pakistan Rangers as police failed to maintain peace. Apart from intelligence agencies, forces present in Gilgit include police, Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts, rangers and Pakistan Army.



Published in The Express Tribune, April 03^rd, 2011.