Gilgit-Baltistan sectarianism: Police chief denies foreign hand in violence
Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) police Inspector General (IG) Hussain Asghar has denied any foreign involvement in the recent strain of violence in the region, which has claimed around 20 lives.
Talking to The Express Tribune via telephone, the IG maintained that few job opportunities and a high literacy rate among the resident youth was fueling dissatisfaction and was feeding the rise in sectarianism.
“I don’t think there is any foreign hand involved in the sectarian riots. The key thing in my understanding is the high rate of literacy without employment opportunities, which allows the frustrated youth to be easily used by some elements,” he said.
Talking about the 32 people held hostage in the Nagar area following the killing of passengers in Chilas by a protesting mob, the IG said efforts were still underway to recover them safely. He added that he was sure they would not be harmed considering the people of Nagar had no prior record of harming people.
Asghar said that a few suspects have been arrested and are being interrogated. However, he was reluctant to disclose the names and exact numbers of those apprehended.
The IG dispelled impressions that a major military operation had been launched in the city.
“We have imposed curfew to normalise the situation and avoiding further riots,” he maintained. He claimed the situation was now under control and heading towards normalcy, especially since both political and religious leaders made efforts to placate the masses.
He also rejected the presence of huge weapon and ammunition caches in the city.
Talking about farsighted measures to stem sectarianism from the picturesque region, he suggested establishing industries to absorb the educated youth on a large scale. This would, according to him, keep them from involvement in sectarian activities.
“G-B has among the highest literacy rates in the country, but few employment oppurtunities. Such a situation frustrates the youth,” he said. “If they have jobs and are busy with work, they will not have time to indulge such activities,” he suggested.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 7th, 2012.
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1732523125-0/Express-Tribune-(7)1732523125-0-270x192.webp "atc approves physical remand of pti workers arrested during protest in islamabad")
@rizvi: Wow, so now India (and Iran!) are establishing terror camps on that side of the border. Wonders will never cease.
If there was no forign hand then IGP should be taken to task for failing in his duty to maintain law and order or is it the old Bureaucracy formula that let situation go to worse from bad and then put in the rope. Is there any other explanation if foreign hand is not involve?????????
Shias wake up and give protection to sunnis thst wilmake sectarian forces look bad in the eyes of gilgit people.
iranian terrorist entered in the peaceful area of GB and they also established training camps at Nager,daniore and jalalabad areas and they have liong term plan to destabilize pakistan and these terrorists are backed by indian RAW,US and IRAN..great game has started in the area...government should meet these people with the iron hands..
police totally failed to protect the peacefull rally and terrorist attack it with hand grenades resultantly killed several no of people,which erupted the voilence in the entire GB,police is actually pretending their failure and they r also failed to recover government officers from terrorist in nager valley after passing so many days,where hundereds of people are still trapped.
Very sad, he is trying to hide the truth....
Police has a role to play, leave this education and employment sector for other departments to deal. You saying this and I thought to close the KIU as it seem the root cause of all trouble as it is promoting education in the region but bad graduates who are not able to get employement in other parts of the world. There are lot of things we should do in Pakistan, it is not only poor Gilgit which bleeding. You might envoy if I name TTP, Sipah or this and Spiah of that, which is comprise of all educated people who found it is more easy to earn money and power by terrorising people of Swat, Dir and other parts of Pakistan. Now when people of diamer recieved cash after agreeing to sell their land for Dame, TTP open their shop in that area. Now what will happen, soon you will be the first to know,
Ask Mr. IGP that, what is literary rate of Chilas people, who ambush people and kill them....