Dubious visit: US delegation arrives in Gilgit

GILGIT: A delegation from the US embassy in Islamabad arrived in Gilgit on Wednesday and met various officials in a visit that has raised eyebrows.

The delegations had bypassed the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) administration and written directly to the G-B police chief to provide them security and escort.

“One of the delegates who met me wanted to know if the political representatives or the people were satisfied after the enforcement of the empowerment order 2009,” said Mohammad Ali Akhtar, the regional finance minister. The delegation also met human rights activist Nasreen Nasir, and G-B assembly member Yasmeen Nazar before visiting a women police station.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 31^st, 2012.