Widening of Skardu-Gilgit Road: Protest over cancellation of project

SUKKUR: Hundreds of people took to the streets on Tuesday against the cancellation of a project to widen the Skardu-Gilgit Road. They threatened to launch widespread protests across Skardu if the road project was not resumed. The protesters staged a rally from the Yadgar-e-Shuhada to the Skardu Press Club, chanting slogans against the Ministry of Communications and Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Manzoor Ahmed Watto. PPP leader Bashir Ahmed Khan said, “[By cancelling the project] the ministry of communications has not only tried to damage the defence of the country but also made a conspiracy to distort Pak-China friendship.” The rally was organised by the Baltistan Youth Forum and Anjuman-e-Tajiran.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 17^th, 2012.