GILGIT:
A day after two people were killed in a spate of sectarian violence in Gilgit city on Tuesday, police arrested four suspects and banned public transport on Karakoram Highway for security reasons.
“Action against the troublemakers is on as we have arrested four suspects so far,” Deputy Inspector General Police Ali Sher told The Express Tribune.
Traffic remained thin on the roads, though schools and offices were open on Wednesday. The ban imposed on motorcycles last week remained in force. The administration also banned the entry of pickups in the city to ensure peace. “A high-level meeting has decided that a ban should be imposed on pickups,” said an official.
As part of security measures, the government banned public transport between Gilgit and Rawalpindi via Karakoram Highway. “We have been asked not to run public transport buses on the highway for security reasons,” said Ehsan Shah, a spokesperson for the government-sponsored Natco bus service.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mehdi Shah said extremists would not be allowed to “hijack” the city. “Those challenging the writ of the government will be taken to task,” read a statement issued by the Chief Minister Secretariat.
Shah blamed the violence on a lack of development in the region and said short- and long-term strategies would be prepared to counter sectarianism in the region. “I appeal to people to identify those involved in sectarianism and terrorism,” he said.
Tuesday’s deaths occurred when two passenger pickups were attacked by armed men in separate incidents. Three were also wounded in the attacks. Meanwhile, another man who was injured in a university clash last week also died on Tuesday, after succumbing to his injuries. “Zameer Abbas died of his wounds, while the two others were killed in separate incidents,” SSP Muhammad Ali Zia told The Express Tribune.
Last week, two rival groups of university students clashed, leaving two men dead and seven injured. The incident led to the imposition of Section 144, which bars the assembly of five or more people in one place.
Chairman of the G-B Public Accounts Committee Syed Raziuddin Rizvi linked Tuesday’s violence to the students clash, saying the university’s Vice Chancellor (VC) Dr Najma Najam created a rift between students from Shia and Sunni communities by denying permission for a religious event on the campus.
“The G-B Assembly speaker and deputy speaker’s unjustifiable support to the VC has reignited sectarian violence in the town,” he told The Express Tribune by phone from Islamabad.
Another lawmaker, Didar Ali, the former president of Anjuman-e-Imamia, said that the clash between two student groups was “engineered” to “facilitate” the escape of high-profile prisoners from a local jail.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2012.
COMMENTS (20)
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All these unrest activities are planned to make the region a security zone to tighten the grip of establishment to continue their well full decision on the GB, people has been divide by Establishment for this purpose through full support to a group of people , Law and order has no values, few local people who have prime role in extremism don't trust local security agencies they want rangers and FC who are the main source of tension in the region, they are just their to take good salaries and peace allowances from the GB budget, why not GB scouts given power to dealt with, police is working in a limited power,what these rangers and FC did yet for the peace except add fuel to the burning fire, why not majority given chance to work for peace , only these imposed decision can work for peace? establishment should re-think its decision and partnership with wrong people otherwise very soon no one will be their to think GB was once part of Pakistan? wise decision to understand changing situation, let the peace to work free of conspiracies behind the walls, it has been used for more than 4 decades and thousands lost life Pakistan lost real sympathies from the region,
@Allama…..Dear do you know anything about Taqiyyah in light of Islamic jurisprudence (at least some know how about……..) Your antithetical arguments must have some credential grounds to prove your point of view. Secondly Arab- Persian rivalry is an outdated theory. It has start with the inception of Khomeinism and subsequent revolution in Persia, and ended with emergence of Persia as a regional hegemonic power in the Persian Gulf and Arab world. Most importantly, the Persians have never considered their Arab brothers to be their rivals; rather their focus is towards Zionists. We must avoid such discussion which creates gulf among the Muslims (brothers) sects, in spite of such unproductive discussion we must find ways for reconciliation of Muslims to strengthen Islamic Ummah and its regeneration.
Read what New York Times has to say: Click here - Islamabad is handing over de facto control of the strategic Gilgit-Baltistan region to China.
@Jat:Well Gilgit-Baltistan is going to be gifted to China soon; as it is, almost half of it is anyway under their control. ET has done its homework"
Your geographical knowledge for Punjab could be accurate but for the Gilgit-Baltisan, I am afraid your know-how is wrong. Ayub Khan in his reign did some trade-off by giving a parcel of land in Shimshal and taking some near Khunjerab so I think it was squared. Similarly It was a trade for a mutual benefit as China can check India from that given part.Currently not a inch of land is in the control of China nor I see any chance in the coming future.
@ maryam: Why limit to the 'clash'? maybe for the sake of 'taqiyyah'? anyways, these killings are unfortunate and only shows the level of deterioration in our society. Pakistan should not become a battle ground for the Arab and Persian states for their centuries old rivalry. And those who are quick in pointing fingers to Arab states please don't be so biased and also include the Persian state in their criticism for the sake of 'adal'..
@Jat ..........Dear, at last your fear from the Chinese troop came to the surface. It is India's phobia from Chinese troops in GB, it is because of the fact that India is being encircled by china and Pakistan. Secondly china is extending its wings beyond this region, it is becoming an economic giant. in case of Pakistan, it is enjoying cordial relations with china. china is an all weather friend of Pakistan.
Regarding Sectarian rift in GB, it is our problem. we will handle it our self. Dear Jat thanks for your advice.
@Sterry: @Jat: I don’t know where you get your information but Gilgit- Baltistan are the most staunchly pro Pakistani people
You should be more careful; truth is leaking out of you. Just like your military, you consider people from Gilgit-Baltistan to be pro Pakistani, but not Pakistanis. Moreover whatever little pro Pakistanis were there, they were all killed in the Kargil conflict. If a few survived, they have been eliminated by RAW under the guise of sectarian violence.
And, if GB is under Pakistan then what are 15,000 Chinese soldiers doing there ? Why is a common Pakistani barred from visiting that area ? You, the defender of Pakistan's point-of-view, can you go there and see for yourself ? I'll answer it for you; no you can't. You are prohibited, barred, banned from visiting Gilgit-Pakistan.
The same way, you can't visit half of Baluchistan (which has the B, C and D zones), and whole of FATA region. Those regions are far off, you can't visit so many areas in Karachi itself. Karachi has the well documented "go and no go areas".
Basically you Pakistanis have been brainwashed, and you are deliberately kept uninformed.
@ Karim......Why not religious programs in university premises???? If u want divorce modern Secular Education from religion or u are indoctrinated with secularism.Then, would u like to reply why champions of secularism in the oriental world celebrate Christmas in university campuses????? Why sir syed Khan in the subcontinent(Alighar) was carrying out religious program ???? Why institute of Ismili studies London conduct such program in university campuses. if i start to reckon there will be thousands of examples. Dear, matter is not about religious or profane. it is a matter or issue related to tolerance, respect for each others doctrines.
@Jat: I don't know where you get your information but Gilgit- Baltistan are the most staunchly pro Pakistani people in the nation. They have always fought and died to free their neighbours in Indian occupied Kashmir more than any other racial group in Pakistan. Think about the sacrifices of the NRI and how local people in Gilgit revolted against the British and Indians who were trying to enslave them. In fact the local people of the area fought themselves for their freedom from the British and the Indians who were trying to cheat them like the people in occupied Kashmir.
@ Allama its is Sec Killing..the clash was on Imam Hussein Day in Uni. Zameer Abbas was SHIA. Is it clear now?
@Wajahat ALi: When ET talks about Gilgit than it must use a photo from the Gilgit region but not from Xinjiang China!
Well Gilgit-Baltistan is going to be gifted to China soon; as it is, almost half of it is anyway under their control. ET has done its homework.
Everybody in my GB knows that some hardcore elements of a sect have killed 1000 from last many years. But govt is afraid from them. We should come and stop foreign funds sepecially from Iraan.
When ET talks about Gilgit than it must use a photo from the Gilgit region but not from Xinjiang China!
Why religious programs in the premises in of a University?
We the People of Gb will never learn how to live together in peace.i disagree with CM,, there is no writ of government. furthermore Schools/ Universities are been made for education but if someone is doing so, we have to respect his religious beliefs.. Banning Highways is not a solution to quit extremism.. if you are banning than show us an alternative
One point is wronly mentioned in this report. Last week supporters of a banned outfit SSP clashed with police and two policemen killed including a member of the militant wing. It is not right to say that two groups of university clashed.
So said, one this was a region of peace and natural wonders, now our enemies start to destabilize this part to plying with the religious sectarian violence, the bottom line is that is that we become too much religious.
no comments so far maybe because the victims do not belong to a particular sect!?
Intelligent step. After all strategic highways are meant for strategic assets and strategic friends. Common man can travel on kutcha paths on their mules.
It is high time the same step was taken in FATA and Baluchistan.