Protest: Gilgit shrouded into darkness

Protesters force shut power supply, demand release of cleric

GILGIT: A major portion of Gilgit-Batistan (G-B) plunged into darkness after protesters forced out the staff of Naltar Hydel Power Project and cut-off power supply to Gilgit and surrounding areas on Sunday.

Angered over the recent arrest of a cleric, the protesters blocked all main roads in the locality. They sought the release of Sheikh Nayyar in Nomal valley, about 25 kilometres from Gilgit.

Nayyar, general secretary of Wahdatul Muslimeen, was among the four clerics picked up by police during a raid in the valley recently.

“His arrest came in the light of the recommendations made by the Masjid Board and Parliamentary Committee recently,” said Amjad Hussain, a member of G-B Council and the parliamentary committee.

The raid, followed by the arrest, sparked protest in the valley as people erected hurdles on roads, disrupting traffic.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Zikrai who had reached the valley at 6am to normalise the situation, got stuck there. “We will not let him go unless the cleric is set free,” said a protester.

The deadlock however persisted till 1pm, when the government finally decided to launch an operation to seek the release of the police chief.



Led by Deputy Inspector General of Police Ali Sher, dozens of police, G-B Scouts and Rangers personnel arrived at the scene, clearing boulders from the road.

However, at about 4pm through negotiations, the chief minister assured the protesters that their demands would be accepted. The IGP was then flown to Gilgit through a helicopter at about 5pm.

Moreover, the power supply was not restored till the filing of this report.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 3^rd, 2012.