Worsening law and order: Lawmakers in Gilgit raise alarm over sectarian violence
Lawmakers in Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly raised alarm over the rising incidence of sectarian violence, and warned the government to contain it lest the killing of innocent people in the capital spills unrest across the entire region.
The third day of the GBLA session chaired by Speaker Wazir Baig was dominated by the deteriorating law and order situation in Gilgit city.
“I warn you of the impending danger,” said Abdul Hameed of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), who hails from the Astore valley. “Unabated violence in Gilgit city can afflict the entire region.”
Earlier on Tuesday, armed men opened fire on two young men in the Khomar area of Gilgit city, killing one and injuring the other. The toll in sectarian-motivated killings has climbed to five, besides eight injuries, in the past one month.
The speaker concurred with the lawmakers and observed that law and order situation in the regional capital was worsening. “The G-B people are looking at you,” he said, addressing G-B Chief Minister Mehdi Shah.
CM says his hands were tied
The chief minister, in a startling ‘revelation’ to assembly members, said he’d been ‘forbidden’ to take action against corrupt officials in the past by sitting assembly members, on political and sectarian grounds. “But from now on, I will name anyone who tries to stop me from taking action against corrupt officials,” Shah told the lawmakers.
His remarks followed opposition leader Janbaz Khan’s presentation of the recommendations of the standing committee on public works departments. A system of rewards and punishment must be introduced in the department, Khan suggested.
Shah announced launching of an inquiry against corrupt officials, but added that inquiries had been conducted in the past but action was delayed due to political and sectarian considerations raised by lawmakers.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 24th, 2011.
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Is the sectarian taboo so bad and paralyzing that a supposed free Pakistani newspaper's article couldn't name the victims' or corrupt officials' backgrounds?
How do places like Gilgit or anywhere else in Pakistan plan to combat bigotry, prejudice, racism, intolerance and discrimination when your media is too scared to even identify the main parties involved and affected.
There's a big difference between political correctness and self-censorship.
Basically it's a tacit approval by the lawmakers of murderers to do what they do, simply because they're too uncomfortable or prejudiced themselves to tackle the issue and rather see people die before ending it.
Here's a good historical socio-political synopsis of religious sectarianism in Gilgit-Baltistan by Seema Shekhawat from Jan, 2011. http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/publication/faultlines/volume20/Article4.htm
Gee...wow...thanks for being spineless earlier and not doing your job, or giving us the names of who held you back before...
Guess getting names 'from now on' is better than nothing from such a lawless corrupt and bigoted state.
The Chief Minister has not only accepted his total failure, he has also admitted that in the past he has been involved, willingly or unwillingly, in the corruption and target killings.
The Supreme Appellate Court shall take notice and question him, to make the realities public.
If you are such a coward, then better sit at your home and run your petrol pumps, instead of coming forward to lead a nation.
Leadership is not for the cowards, CM saab!!
@Iftikhar-ur-Rehman: But Sir..........the ground reality is opposite.
Before taking actions against the corrupt officials All Politicians in the GBLA including Mr.CM needs to take an oath that they will not contest for the votes on sectarian bases. Politicians have tied their hands as per their own ill wills, most of the religious radicals are sponsored by the politicians if they stop doing that then things will automatically flow on right direction. Residents of the area never wanted to hinder the peace but the Political persons do and they do it to gain their own personal interests, there are so many other stacks who have been benefited by such misshapes so GBLA members are needed to wash their own faces first.
Dear Shabbir Bhai.. You deserve all praise for highlighting the core problem faced by the indigenous people of Gilgit-Baltistan and If Government n Secuirity forces are failed to maintain peace than Media must play its role in sensitization of People regarding extremism.
Why sectarian considerations??? A thief is a thief whether he is from one sect or the other!!!