Strict vigilance: All parties to acquire permission before hide collection in G-B

Interior ministry asks provincial govts to heighten security around mosques, Eidgahs for Eid prayers.

GILGIT:

The Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) government has made it mandatory for all political and religious parties to obtain written permission prior to collecting hides during Eidul Azha.

“The decision has been taken in order to keep a strict watch on all the parties,” a senior official said on Saturday. He was referring to the policy devised by the centre about collection of hides of sacrificial animals.

The home department of the regional government has also issued a letter to this effect, asking concerned departments including deputy commissioners and police to ensure compliance. According to the letter, those violating the orders would be charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Only the deputy commissioner and superintendent police would be allowed to issue permissions, that too after receiving applications from interested parties, said the official.



Meanwhile, a letter from the federal interior ministry has asked the provincial governments to heighten security around mosques and eidgahs to ensure no untoward incident takes place during Eid prayers.

Absconders arrested

At least nine persons, who allegedly held 35 men hostage for over a week in Nagar valley last year, have been arrested, police said on Saturday.

The 35 men were abducted from Nagar in April 2012 when sectarian clashes intensified in G-B after a mob attacked a bus on Karakoram Highway near Chilas, killing 10 people. In a reprisal attack, nine people allegedly abducted 35 men working in different parts of the valley and held them hostage for over a week before clerics mediated their release.



The wanted men were at large since then and the government had also announced head money. A police official said local politicians facilitated their arrests.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2013.