In solidarity: G-B Assembly adopts resolution against terrorism

Lawmaker cites recent attacks in Bannu, Rawalpindi.

GILGIT:

The Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) legislative assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on Wednesday against the ongoing wave of terrorist attacks in the country.

Mutabiat Shah, a lawmaker from Hunza, tabled the resolution referring to incidents including the attack on security forces in Bannu and Royal Artillery Bazaar, Rawalpindi.



“This house expresses solidarity with families that lost their dear ones in these terrorist attacks,” said the resolution passed by the house unanimously. “The rule of law is nowhere to be seen and the recurrence of such heinous incidents is testament to that,” the lawmaker said in the session being chaired by Speaker Wazir Baig.

Chief Minister Mehdi Shah, who was in Islamabad, could not attend the session after his flight got cancelled.

Rahmat Khaliq of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) blamed the absence of a concrete foreign policy for the deteriorating law and order in the country, adding unless that changes, things are likely to remain the same.

In response to a question, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Engineer Mohammad Ismail said the Local Bodies Act would be submitted in the house for approval once it has been vetted by experts including the advocate general.

On a point of order, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Sheikh Nisar Hussain Sarbaz of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said Rs280 million has been allocated for development of agriculture in the region.

Raft service

Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Chief Secretary Younus Dagha has asked authorities to resume the raft service at Attabad Lake to facilitate local residents on both banks of the lake.

The service was suspended upon directives from the Hunza administration to avoid passengers getting trapped in the rather frozen lake, as has happened in the recent past.

“Residents of the region will benefit from this step,” said an official of the regional government, referring to a meeting held between a delegation from Gojal valley and the chief secretary, in which the delegation apprised him of the travel woes of locals.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2014.