LBP and PYF organizes protest demonstration against killing of protestors; registration of FIR against offenders demanded

Press Release

ISLAMABAD, Feb.21: Labour Party Pakistan and Progressive Youth Front Jointly organized a protest demo in front of national press club to voice against the incident took place in Diamer District. According to details, hundreds of students assembled at Islamabad press club to record protest of killings of unarmed protesters on pretext of attack on PWD office on Thursday. Holding play cards, and banners, protesters chanted slogans against the state brutality and killing of victim of Diamar Bhasha Dam of Chillas during a peaceful demonstration Feb 18 by local police.


Speakers like Baba Jan, Chief Organizer, Progressive Youth Front, Hunza Chapter and General secretary, Labour Party Pakistan Nisar Shah Advocate on the occasion during their speech paid due tribute to those all lost their lives in the interest of the region.They condemned government for using state machinery and state brutality against the public.The killing incident resulted following peaceful and unarmed demonstration against Diamar Bhasha Dam at Chillas on February 18 by local police. The demonstrators also chanted slogans: zalmo jawab do khoon ka hisab dow and demanding inquiry into incident . They also demanded registration of FIR against the murderers of victims, press release read. It is pertinent to tell our readers that the killing incident of public resulted into turmoil and sever agitation and ultimately blocked of Karakorum High way for many hours in Chillas limits.

Helicopters contniue to shift releief Package to Shishkat and Ayeenabad; main Shishkat-Gulmit bridge about to sink

GBEcho

HUNZA, Shishkat, Ayeenabad, Feb.19: According to reliable media sources,regional government managed to send essentials to the Shishkat and Gulmit to fulfill current demands. Rest of the Ayeenabad including twelve houses and lower areas of Shishkat settlement have been submerged completely. Rising water level on naturally formed lake rose to 170 feet and stretched to about fifteen kilometers long leaving 10 houses submerged in Shishkat village and rest at low altitude have been evacuated.

Relief workers loading relief package into a helicopter for the affectees of Upper Hunza. File Photo, by: Fazal Karim

The water level of blocked water rose to 170 feet and stretched to about fifteen kilometers. The main bridge between Gulmit and Shishkat would be submerged within next thirty hours.
On the other hans, Chief Minister Mehdi Shah has suspended DV, SP, AC and Tehsildar on the demand of protesters and appealed the masses for cooperation in prevailing peace. Protectors had blocked KKH on protest of killings of three people in the incident. Courtesy: Voice of Hunza

Violence in Chilas, 3 Diamir dam affectees shot dead

GBE Watch

Islamabad, February 18: Security forces allegedly opened fire on a group of people affected by the Diamir Dam while they were protesting against the government’s inability to pay compensations to them in Chilas, headquarter of Diamir district. At least three people were killed as a result of the firing while some were reported injured.The enraged protesters pelted NAPWD office with stones and put its furniture and other equipments on fire. A police station was also torched, according to some reports.Work on the dam is scheduled to take place in 2010 but the government has not yet been able to win confidence of the affected people. The local people had been protesting for many days asking the government to pay attention to their demands of rehabilitation and compensation for the loss of property and other means of livelihood caused by the dam, Pamir Times reports.

Nomination of female governor to be hailed: CM

GB Echo

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 19: Syed Mehdi Shah, Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan has said that the nomination of female governor would be hailed to fulfil the aspirations of both masses and late Chairperson Benazir Bhutto. Talking to a regional daily,after meeting with Faryal Talpoor, sister of President Zardari at her residence, he rejected the rumors of nominations for a male governor of Gilgit-Baltistan.He said that the newly appoint governor will be from Gilgit Baltistan who has grasp over regional politics. " If Benazir Bhutto has governed country twice and Fehmida Mirza is proving a successful Speaker of National Assembly then why not a female govern can not run affairs of Gilgit-Baltistan," he added. He said that situation will be clear within few days ahead, Daily K2-Urdy reports.

Boat Service may prove vulnerable if boats were not repaired;

life jackets substandard, leakage of freezing water and blowing of downstream icy winds added troubles for travellers, female and children still awaiting for arrangements, FWO, NAPWD, FOCUS, Civil and Political administration and local volunteers doing their most to release blocked water

GBEcho

HUNZA, Attaabad, Feb. 19: The boat service that was inaugurated by Syed Mehdi Shah, Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan and Wazir Baig, Speaker GBLA along home secretary on Sunday is proving troublesome for travelers. According to details, the boat service started its operations recently has added troubles for the travelers due to leakage of water into substandard boats and life jackets being used as prevention measures.


On the other hand, blowing downstream icy winds have added to the difficulties of the travelers. Children and Females stranded on both sides of blocked water are still waiting for arrangements to reach their destinations. Regional government and Civil administration of Gilgit Baltistan has sought boats with the help of NDMA to facilitate commuters to replace chopper service that already suspended due to bad climatic conditions. According to a FOCUS official, who on the conditions of anynamity said, the boats may prove vulnerable due to little relevance to the ecological circumstances adding special boats are required that could bear winds and have least possibility of overturning into water while travelling. Frontier Work Organization(FWO), Northern Areas Power and Works Department (NAPWD), Focus Humanitarian Organization, Civil and political administration and local volunteer organizations are doing their most to release blocked water and to clear Karakorum High Way, with the available machinery, simultaneously. Nevertheless, little arrangements are made for officials and workers working on the side as disaster prevention measures for the sheered rocks on both sides can bring devastation.

Boat service replaces chopper service for communters; Local volunteers and scouts joins should to shoulder in relief work;

FWO and PWD's workers and official busy to remove debris
Monitoring Report
HUNZA, Attaaba, Feb.16: Finally, the boat service was replaced by helicopter service to facilitate commuters stranded for more than a week on both ends-at Aliabad and Gulmit valley. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) operated from the day third of calamity and blockade of water on Hunza River and Karakorum High Way (KKH) to shift people from Upper (Gojal) to central Hunza one hand and essentials of life on the other. Taking opportunity of a comfortable service, many individuals misused the facility by traveling many times without reasons. Consequently, after getting certain proof such tendencies, NDMA imposed strict checking that led to some unpleasant incidents and in response authorities allowed only a single helicopter for airlift operations. Later on, bad climatic conditions caused suspension of helicopter services for more than a week thus stranding hundreds of people in Aliabad and Gulmit in a hope to reach their homes, earnestly. NDMA,with the efforts of civil administration and regional government, succeeded to create an alternative in terms of boat service to facilitate shifting of people from both ends. About ten special boats were sought which reached on Sunday's early morning. Local volunteers, boyscout, members of civil society, NGOs, Northern Areas Public Works Department and Frontier Works Organization joined shoulders to shoulders to make the hard task possible. FWO and PWD officials and workers pawed a jeepable road to western end of artificial lake. Such unprecedented examples are hardly seen when people forget themselves and work for the cause of others. The boats were first taken to bank and droped into lake after being assembled. Chief Minister, Syed Mehdi Shah, Wazir Baig speaker Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly, Home Secretary Usman Yunus, Zafar Waqar Taj, Deputy Commissioner Hunza-Nager, Force Commander and other officials visited the disaster site to inaugurate boat service. Talking to the public Syed Mehdi Shah, Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan said that the negative impact of land slide and water blockade would not only on Hunza but on the whole Gilgit-Baltistan. He placed emphasis on intelligentsia and geological experts to share their knowledge to cope the disaster effectively. Wazir Baig, during the occasion claimed that government was doing more than any government in past adding traditional opposition brings nothing but hatred. He called on people to help their brothers to get them out of trouble. He rejected allegations of other parties for being apathetic saying government realizes the problems faced by the affectees of Ayeenabad and Shiskat village and vowed to provide them every possible relief to address their legitimate demands according to the situation.

Courtesy: www.voiceofhunza.blogspot.com

Ayeenabad submerging gradually;

nine houses disappeared beneath water, mere five meter debris out of 20 meter hight romoved ; mud was creating hurdles for excauaters at base level; areas upto Passu vulnerable

GBE Report

HUNZA, Shiskat,Feb.12: About nine houses and a large portion of cultivated land has been submerged in Ayeenabad.According to avaliable update, mere five meter debris out of 20 meter hight has been romoved since the day one. Mud is creating hurdles for excauaters at the base level. On the other hand, the technical reports apprehend that water can gather up Passu leaving Shiskat and Gulmit vulnerable. According to FOCUS's geological experts, the artificially formed lake has now stratched to 11 kilometers

15 killed as twin bombs target police in Bannu

GBEcho

PESHAWAR: A double bombing targeted policemen in Bannu on Thursday, killing 15 and wounding 24 others, in the third attack against security personnel in the country’s northwest in 24 hours. Two explosions, at least one of which was caused by a suicide bomber, went off in quick succession outside a police training centre in Bannu just as a patrol headed by local District Police Officer Iqbal Marwat was returning, said officials. “Iqbal Marwat is seriously injured. We are trying to arrange a helicopter to evacuate him to Peshawar ... there are 15 dead,” a doctor told AFP over the telephone from the local hospital. Eight policemen, a child and six civilians had been killed, the doctor told AFP, having adjusted an earlier toll of 12 policemen. He said another 24 people, including two children, were brought in wounded, and four of them were in critical condition.There were scenes of panic in the hospital as medics struggled to cope with the numbers of victims, said the doctor. According to fficials reports curfew was imposed in Bannu after the attacks.AFP

Crackdown continue for the arrest of miscreants in the valley;dozens were already detained on charges of creating law and order situation

GBE Monitoring desk

KHAPLU,SKARDU, Feb.04: (Jafar Ali) The crack down for the arrest of miscreants and those involved in attack on Khapulo Headquarter Police station was continue. Many have been reportedly arrested on charge of creating law and order situation in the town.

According to details, about 70 people have been arrested followed by sporadic skirmishes started in various parts between two rival groups on last Friday due to tearing of political posters and banners in the town. A mob later attacked police station of Khaplu, the headquarters of the Ghanche district, pelted with stones to get release of the two arrested persons by police few hours ahead. Superintendent of Police Syed Ahmed Shah in compliance with the directions received from Waqar Ahmad, Assistant Commissioner Ghanche started raids with special police party to detained all involved in the incident. Talking to media persons, Syed Ahmed Shah said that the crack down will continue till the arrest of last person involved in creating law and order situation. An FIR had been registered against those who were involved in damage to public property.

Source: www.voiceofhunza.blogspot.com

Govt should provide chopper service for goods forwarding between Sost and Gilgit city: Javed Hasan

GBEMonitoring desk

GILGIT, Feb.03: (Shamsuddin Muhammad) Javed Hasan Khan, president Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gilgit-Baltistan has called upon government of Pakistan to facilitate trade community by providing helicopter service to shift trade goods dumped in Sost, Upper Hunza. Addressing a press conference, he said that goods of more than 4billion worth was dumped at Sost,Gojal causing great financial burden and loss for traders. He demanded of government to provide M.I. 17 helicopter service to facilitate shifting of goods to destination. He also demanded of government to write off loans to compensate loss faced by traders community following the blocked of Karakorum High Way. He claimed that the pace of work to clear KKH and release of water from lake is extremely slow adding a detailed complaint letter has been sent to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani. Daily K2, Urdu.

Active role of Civil Society in critical times [Article]

By: Shamsuddin Muhammad

Volunteering and public spritedness are among the major attributes and hallmarks of evolving civil society structure in Gilgit-Baltistan.A general overview of data available from different sources elucidates that about 65 percent out of the total population give their time and knowledge to the individual or integrated humanitarian organizations in need.Of those volunteering their time, despite acute financial obstacles, about 4o percent reportedly give time to religious based, 20% Non Governmental Organizations(NGOs) working for powerty reduction and woman empowerment and Cmmunity Support Organizations (CSOs),about 10% to educational institutions with high esteem volunteering as inherited virtue. Volunteering has been an impulse infused by religious and social obligation of helping poor and opressed. Following fall of colonialism, philanthropists like Aga Khan third and later fourth established charities in the health and education sector to uplift standard of living of masses regardless of creed, colour, origin and affliation to faith. With the passage of time, the maturity in mental level of individuals in society drew on historical traditions of providing relief to the victim communities in hard times from the plateform of Community Support Organizations, though least accountable and lack of internal democratic atttitude has had rendedred an invaluable services to humanity during last more than sixty years. The term civil society is bit new in Gilgit-Baltistan,though already existed in terms of both formal and informal volunteer organizations and arbitration committees on town and village level and non profit based educational centrals in past. Yet, on state level, the
term is meant varies for different segments of the society.In contemporary era, developed discourse, discussions and jounalistic writing structures unify many elements under the scope of the emerging term-Civil Society...... Continue





The writer is a freelance researcher and writer.

Huge gold reserves found in Yasen village

GBE Watch

YASEN, Feb.01: A huge reserve of gold have been discovered at the Qhorqholti village of Yasin, the former capital of the ancient Brushal state, which is situated at a distance of about 10 km from the tehsil headquarters, it has been learnt here.As a result, national and international firms and companies have swung into action to put their hands on the natural wealth buried at the village. In the fore front of the companies searching for the gold reserves are Chinese and a dozen are Chinese firms are said to be arriving in the area to cash in on the situation.According to the foreign experts, the area has vast reserves of gold, copper, iron, sulphur etc and their exploitation can bring a revolution not only in the region but also in the whole country.There are a number of Pakistan and other companies who are planning to get lease of the minerals in the areas. However, the mineral development department of Gilgit-Baltistan has not yet taken any initiative to start work on the project.It is also being reported that there have sound of been numerous underground blasts in the mineral rich village of Qhorqholti and the experts say that these sounds of blast are a result of clash between high quality sulphur. The residents say that if a reputed national or international firm is allowed to work on the exploitation of the mineral, the destiny of the region can be changed overnight. However, the people say that Gilgfit-Baltistan is a disputed area and without the agreement of the local people no outsider company can be given permission to work on the project in the region. Earlier, people of Gandaye area in Yasen started protest against a Chinese company when it was given lease of mineral exploitation.It has also been learnt that the government of Pakistan is planning to lease out the reserve by keeping the local people in the dark. However, the residents not only rejected the government's plan but also warned it of dire consequences. They also called upon the international community to put pressure on Pakistan not to exploit the resources of the disputed region without taking its people into confidence, Weekly Baang reports.

Nationalist parties blames regional and federal government for negligance

ISLAMABAD: ( Shamsuddin Muhammad) Nationalist parties has once again blamed regional and federal government for lack of interest in the issue despite warnings given by FOCUS and Geological Survey of Pakistan and other media reports to evacuate and relocate population on both side of artificially formed lake following the land slide in first week of new year. Talking to Voice of Hunza, returning from Faisalabad Workers Annual Convention, Baba Jan, Chief Organizer Progressive Youth, Hunza-Nagar chapter blamed ruling government of negligence in work of release of water saying slow pace of work may bring another tragedy. He said that many people in far flung valleys are getting out of basic essentials of life." Any loss of life or property would be considered as blunder of on part of ruling government," he added. He has demanded of both federal and regional government to make efforts to rehabilitate the affected population along the river on two sides to save further lives in danger, expedite work to release rising water through breach in blockade and clearance of KKH in collaboration with Chinese engineers.

In time approval of admissions on increased quoat in Medical colleges implies sincerity of federal government says Amber

Monitoring Report

KARACHI, Feb.01: (Shamsuddin Muhammad) Amber Hussain adovocate Vice President, Pakistan Peoples Party, women wing Gilgit-Baltistan chapter has said federal government through comprehensive efforts has cleared all hurdles that impinged the processes of admissions emegerged following disapproval of Pakistan Medical and Dental College saying notification beyond the authority of Pujab government and against the rules of institutions. Talking to media persons, she said that it was Prime Minister's personal efforts that esulted into approval of admission on increased qouta for students from Gilgit-Baltistan implies federal government's sincerity with the region. "According to Prime Minister's announcement flights ought to be scheduled even in bad weather, students tourists and patients equally suffers simultanously; a large portion of total population affiliated with the tourims that affects so it is important to adress this issue on priority basis," she added. She said that about 140 students will be awarded scholarship under internship programme. She claimed that the youth of Gilgit-Baltistan are not behind the youth of other parts of the country in any field adding underestimation of their skills and expertise have served to infuse disappointment among youth of the region. She demanded of Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah to initiate struggle for rights of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and opposed the tendency of hiring of personnel from NWFP in local government institutions.

Courtesy: Voice of Hunza

OGRA increases price of petrol products

ISLAMABAD, Jan 01: ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has said that the price of petrol will be increased by three rupees and diesel by two rupees a litre. A notification was issued by OGRA which said that the new prices will take effect from the 1st of February.Official sources told a private news channel that a weakening rupee against dollar is one of the major factors that have contributed to the rise in fuel prices.After the hike comes into effect the price of petrol will go up to seventy-one rupees and twenty-one paisas per liter, diesel will cost sixty-one rupees and seven paisas per liter, kerosene oil will cost sixty-four rupees and seven paisas and HOBC will be available on eighty-six rupees and eighty-four paisas per liter in the market. After the increase in the per liter prices of petroleum products most of the petrol pumps closed and they have started dumping the products, where as people are facing real difficulties in getting these products, Dawn News reported.