Solangi quells G-B turmoil rumours

Interim minister shares video clips ‘displaying sense of normalcy’ in region

Caretaker Federal Information Minister Murtaza Solangi on Sunday maintained that the law and order situation in Gilgit-Baltistan was “calm” and there was “peace and stability” in the region.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the minister quoted a news statement issued by the G-B’s home department a day earlier that described the media reports about army deployment in the region to quell the unrest there for around a week as “baseless”.

In a statement released by the Home Department of Gilgit-Baltistan, it has been clarified that the situation in Gilgit-Baltistan is completely peaceful and the news and speculations circulating in media regarding the deployment of Pakistan Army are completely baseless.
All roads,…

— Murtaza Solangi (@murtazasolangi) September 3, 2023

The statement read that the G-B government had requisitioned the services of the Pakistan Army and civil armed forces to maintain law and order only for the chehlum of Imam Hussain (RA) slated to take place next week.

Referring to the G-B home department’s statement, he said Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 had been imposed across the region to maintain law and order; protect lives and properties; and avoid any untoward incident.

In another post, Solangi wrote that that G-B was experiencing “peace and stability”.

“Schools, colleges, markets, and roads are open, displaying a sense of normalcy. Peaceful protests do occur at times in reaction to some religious and sectarian concerns but the law and order situation is calm,” he added.

The minister too described the reports of turmoil in G-B as “baseless”. He maintained that no gunshots were fired in the region. He added that there was no damage to public and private properties.

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“The protests are a natural political democratic response to local issues, which were managed peacefully in G-B. G-B remains a haven of peace and harmony,” he continued.

Solangi substantiated claims of normalcy in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) by sharing video clips on Sunday. These visuals depicted open shops and unhindered vehicular traffic, conveying an impression of regular activity in the region.

G-B Chief Secretary, Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, echoed this sentiment, asserting that the situation in G-B remained "peaceful" and categorically denying any troop deployment in the region. He underscored that schools, colleges, markets, and all major highways were fully operational, emphasizing that there were no standing orders to call in the army in G-B.

However, he reiterated that the troops were prepared to provide security for the upcoming Chehlum of Imam Hussain (RA).

In response to the situation, the G-B government issued a directive to its transport authority secretary, urging all public and private transport vehicles on the Karakoram Highway, bound for Rawalpindi and Islamabad, to depart from their stations with the aim of reaching Raikot Bridge by 11 am.

Earlier reports had indicated that the G-B government had implemented Section 144 in Diamer's Chilas, encompassing a ban on the display of weapons, aerial firing, religious gatherings, and any attempts to obstruct highways as a form of protest. Furthermore, the government was reported to have made arrangements to deploy Rangers, G-B Scouts, and Frontier Corps personnel in major cities across the region.

These measures were triggered by recent unrest instigated by protests in Chilas, where demonstrators blocked the Karakoram Highway and Babusar Pass for three days. They demanded the arrest of a religious leader from Skardu due to his alleged controversial remarks. Protests also occurred in Astore and Gilgit, subsiding only after an FIR was registered against the religious leader.

In response to these events, Skardu witnessed a market and transport strike, with protesters obstructing major thoroughfares, including the Juglot-Skardu Road. Consequently, the G-B government deployed the Karakoram Task Force and police on the Karakoram Highway, Juglot-Skardu Road, and Babusar Top to ensure passenger safety and maintain the smooth flow of vehicular traffic.

(With input from agencies)