GILGIT:
Amid cautions of possible terrorist attacks on passenger buses travelling between Gilgit and Rawalpindi, the Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Police on Thursday released 12 people, including four clerics, who had been detained three months back on charges of inciting violence.
G-B Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Police Ali Sher said the men were among the 20 people arrested under Section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) after over 20 people were killed in G-B in target killings. He said the men were detained for three months and were released after they provided written assurances that they will remain peaceful in the future and not incite people towards violence.
The men include Anjuman-e-Imamia President Faqir Shah, Ahle-Sunnat Waljamat General Secretary Himayatullah, Sheikh Iqbal and Mussa Karimi, who is the prayer leader of a mosque in Aliabad, Hunza.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Interior has yet again cautioned the G-B government of possible terrorist attacks on passenger buses on Karakoram Highway between Gilgit and Rawalpindi.
In a letter sent to the G-B government, the ministry stated that passenger buses headed towards Astore or Skardu may come under terrorist attacks between Dassu area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Chilas town of G-B’s Diamer district.
The ministry cautioned that the attack might be similar to the ones that occurred in Babusar and Kohistan, in which passengers, mostly Shias, were hauled off of buses and shot dead.
The ministry requested the G-B government to remain vigilant in the coming days as residents of G-B working elsewhere in the country will be travelling to their hometowns to celebrate Eid.
DIG Sher said the police have set up an elaborate plan to ensure security in G-B during Eid days.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 19th, 2012.
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