Pakistan

Attabad Lake victims: GBLA member supports protesters

Shah says it was the democratic right of the masses to register their protest.

May 18, 2011 Less than a minute read

HUNZA: Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly Member Mutabiat Shah has appealed to the government to resolve the issues of Attabad Lake affected people on a priority basis.

He said on Tuesday that the masses of Gojal Valley had been forced to protest because their issues remained unresolved. He said it was the democratic right of the masses to register their protest.

The technocrat member, himself a resident of Gojal, said if the pledged compensation amount of Rs600,000 was not paid to those affected immediately, they would be forced to spend another year in tents. “After two to three months, the weather in the region will change and it will not be possible to construct houses,” Shah said.

The protesters’ strike has drawn heavy support from different sections of society with businesses in Aliabad, Karimabad and Sost shutting down, and traffic coming to a halt. According to some reports, GBDMA officials have held meetings with the protesters in Shishkat and Gulmit, asking them to end the strike.

However, the affected people have refused, saying that the strike will continue till the complete fulfilment of their demands.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2011.