Year 2010 brought a mourn with it for the people of Hunza. Cold was on its peak, dawn of the January 4 came up with harsh cold, and the day proved coldest day of the days and cold month of the months, proved very unfortunate for the people of Hunza in their entire history. Nature loving people every body of Attabad, Hunza were busy in their routine life, farmers were tiring in their routine cattle’s affairs, female in household affairs and children with their schools. The day treated as savage as it was cold, as harsh it scrutinized the people of Hunza is unforgettable.

Hunza valley, one of the valuable parts of Pakistan ruined by the murderous land sliding and a natural catastrophe. Although casualties were less but its magnitude was grim for the people of Hunza. The catastrophe took 13 precious lives 6 severely injured and about hundreds Kanals of land and millions of property smashed and more than 30,000 residents of Upper Hunza Gojal is still isolated from the Pakistan. Other than there are almost more than 2500 students suffer due IDPs and blockage of karakrarm high way (KKH) which links Pakistan and china.
The unpredictable future of thousand of students and survival problem of thousands of general masses of upper Hunza Gojal valley, which is really intimidating and disastrous.

Two years later of the disaster, still there is a chaos; it doesn’t seem predictable to think about the long term strategy for rebuilding effected area and rehabilitation of victims. After long period of convulse beneath, victims of Attabad Valley are still plumbing for justice, rights and basic necessities of the life.

Rotten rulers and politicians betrayed the people of Hunza Via fake promises. On 21 may 2010 Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousuf Raza Gilani visited Hunza and ensured assistance in his extensive speech, but his speech gave no more than a betray. Local rural promised victims to compensate but it could not minimize the despair and distress of the sufferers.

Furthermore, the Pakistani forces who have been working over the spillway, they were not well equipped for the vital task setting up a supply chain aid and breach the stored water/dam. This is what they are doing under a sensible division of labors certainly most ordinary general masses seem please to see the government measures.

17 June 2010 local people started widening the spillway, the police stopped them by assuring them as government is a doer.

“All the government promises proved wrong and no more then a political statement. Promises of local and national leaders Governor Gilgit-Baltistan, speaker GB and Chief Minister GB have been encouraging the people and victims but in vain”.Baba Jan said. Further he said “we will continue the struggle and protest unless governments fulfill our demands”.

He added “If government cannot handle the problems of lack widening and victims then they should surrender and we the local people will do by self help”.

The story does not end here, the event led to take two innocent lives more, father and son on August 2011 when the victims protested in Aliabad for their demands, and hundreds of youth including many graduates students of Hunza victimized of police FIRs, the story of injustice reached to its climax and Government custody and jailed many political and social leader including Baba Jan.

Further Delay and disarray will cost many lives and the longer it lasts, the more likely that depression and despair will turn into violence and situation will be worst to bad. I think enough is enough now the need of hour is to provide justice, whosoever is responsible for not clearing the spill way, not compensating the victims should soon bring under the law and accept the demands and free the political prisons and say bye to FWO and deliver the contract to any international origination to avoid further any repulsive event.

Contributor, Ejaz Karim a student of FC College, Lahore. He can be reached at k4karimformanite@gmail.com

Interview Published in Organization for Educational Change (OEC) Gilgit Baltistan

I was brought up and educated in Hunza, I have ended up in LUMS to pursue a degree in Economics.
I did my primary schooling from Hunza Model High School Aliabad. Followed by admission at AKHSS, Hunza to explore myself at secondary and higher secondary level.

I achieved my higher secondary school certificate for pre-engineering in 2009. In the last quarter of the same year I joined LUMS for my undergraduate study program.

Why this university?

I have always believed in exploring new areas and places of study. LUMS is one of such places which not only must be discovered rather it will assist me discover myself.

Moreover, this university was considered to be the ONLY one, which none of the GB female students could get into. This dilemma coaxed me to make it to it so that one day I would confidently say that nothing can be left unconquered, once one’s will is strong enough to vanquish every standards of difficulty. Also, I wanted to be an example for all those students who lost belief in themselves and their competent abilities. But, now am quite sure that more students especially females of GB are struggling their ways to be here someday.

Why Economics?

Preferring economics as my major was because, recently the changing world economic order has given a timely impetus to specialize in it. The unpredictable recession in the economies of developed countries worldwide has plunged my interest deeper into the vast waters of economics. I would like to contribute to the struggling societies through the implementation of innovative policies which will address the core issues that under-developed nations face today.

Ideal job/Dream job.

A job which involves the betterment of the deprived, my community and my nation has been always a dream. Considering this, my ideal job would be any development sector in Pakistan or abroad.

Inspiration

I have got bits of inspiration from many people whom I have encountered so far. This has lead to development of my inspiration from narrow horizons to broader ones at many points in time. And I consider myself on that path of growth which will never end as long as I am at a stage of learning every now and then.

However, I must mention those five GB, LUMS’ students who came to my college to give the career
counseling session focusing their university and its details. Since that day, I had dreamed of being in their position and delivering my speech to juniors one day. And through my writing today, I am fulfilling that silent longing.

Mentioning a few more people, who inspired me were all those successful students who made GB proud and their parents in particular. Also, my instructors in school, college, and university have contributed building me, by giving me inspiration in their own simple ways.

Define success? How successful do you’ve been so far?

For me, success is finding oneself at the right time for the right reasons of self obligation, leadership
and service. I am trying hard and giving my best to be able to achieve it one day. For now, I think I am heading in the right direction.

Interview Published in Organization for Educational Change (OEC) Gilgit Baltistan (The Educature)

Foolproof security measures have been adopted to avert any untoward incident on Youm-i-Ashur in Gilgit.

Official sources said the mourners would be provided foolproof security by the police, which will be assisted by the paramilitary troops.

The routes of small and main processions have been cleared by the security forces, which would be sealed on the Ashura.

Only selected places would be open to join the mourners’ processions where walk through gates have been installed. Body search for the mourners will be a must.

The sources said entry and exit points had been sealed and would remain closed till termination of processions which will be taken out from the central Imamia Mosque Gilgit. The main procession will be joined by the small groups of mourners reaching the venue from all across the region from early morning.

The procession would pass through its traditional routes where close circuit cameras have also been installed. Several control rooms linked by the main control room at the city police station have also been set up. The health department officials would also extend help in case of any emergency.

Meanwhile, Gilgit police arrested a young boy who had opened indiscriminate fire in the air in the heart of city, which created panic among the people.

News published in Dawn News

Source (Tribune) The deceased were a part of a caravan which was headed towards Gojal Valley, when the incident happened.

The locals of the area tried to rescue them but failed to do so.

Three people also sustained injuries in the incident and were moved to a nearby hospital.

The locals said that the people who died were employees of a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).

Pakistan is at a greater risk of “massive floods” due to the melting of glaciers up north. The situation needs to be thoroughly assessed, before it gets too late.

Automatic monitoring stations have been set up at only two of the 5,320 glaciers in Gilgit-Baltistan, at least 10 stations are required to monitor the overall situation of the melting glaciers.

Experts believe that the fast melting of glaciers combined with the heavy monsoon rains caused last year’s massive floods that affected around 20 million people and destroyed 1.6 million homes.

The floods inundated up to one-fifth of the country over several weeks as the floodwater swept down Indus River.

Source (Theterrorland Blog) BURUSHASKI, according to experts, is a language isolate, not known to be related to any other language of the world. It’s spoken only in parts of Gilgit-Baltistan. It has three dialects in Hunza, Nagar and Yasin valley. Rough estimates say there are about 100,000 native speakers known as Brusho or Hunzakuts. Many people have researched on this unique language including famous orientalists. Among them are two senior local researchers and creative writers: Nasir Hunzai and Ghulamuddin. There are many other writers including Fidaali Aisar, Azizullah Najeeb have enriched Burushaski language. Mr. Ghulamuddin is the first person to translate the Holly Quran into Burushaski language. Haji Qudratullah’s History of Hunza, which he coauthored with his grandfather in Persian, is a must-read for those who want to research on the region. According to sources, English translation of this classic is being published from Pakistan. Sufi poet Allama Nasir al-Din Nasir Hunzai had got education up to fifth grade but today, this nonagenarian is author of about 100 books. He is the first poet to have a Dewan (anthology) in Burushaski language. The Aga Khan, spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims, has appreciated his creative genius in a preface to the book. Besides honorary degree of doctorate and professorship from a foreign university, Mr. Hunzai is also a recipient of Pakistan’s highest civil award, Sitarah-i-Imtiyaz, in literature. Creative people are now using Burushaski not only for religious poetry but also for other sorts of literature. Besides the mass media, currently the youths are using the language for political awareness as well especially the Burushos of Nagar and Yasin valley. However, there are no female singers, models and actors, not only in Hunza but in the entire Gilgit-Baltistan region. Some females sing only religious hymns. It is really mocking… the so-called literate and liberal portrayal of the region in the national and international media. The performing arts need the attention of the government, NGOs and local intelligentsia in this regard.

Source (Dardistantimes)

A person of interest’ wanted by local Anti Terrorism Court of Gilgit-Baltistan has committed suicide in Hunza. Fazal Karim, who was alleged to lead the riots in Ali Abad after the brutal killings of two innocent protesters by law enforcement agencies, has strangled himself with a rope hung by a tree in his courtyard.

Fazal Karim,  a young resident of Aliabad, reportedly went into hiding after an absconder notice he saw in a local newspaper. He was worried about the random raids and arrests in Hunza. He was found dead hanging on a tree in his courtyard.  After a post-mortem his body was handed over to his close relatives.

His body was laid to rest and the funeral was attended by thousand of people.

A letter of Brig (Rtd.) Hisamullah Beg in his own hand writing.

Dear Mr Abdul Malik Abdullah,

Source(socialist-alliance.org) We are writing to ask for your urgent intervention with the government of Pakistan to secure the release of Mr Baba Jan and five other political prisoners currently detained in the region of Gilgit-Baltistan. Mr Baba Jan is a leader of both the highly respected Labour Party Pakistan and the Progressive Youth Front in the region.

During a peaceful demonstration on August 11 by local residents of Gilgit-Baltistan demanding the payment of compensation allowances due to them following the devastating flood and landslide in the valley of Hunza on July 4, 2010, the police opened fired on the protesters, killing Afzal Baig (22 years old), then his father, Sher Ullah Baig (50 years old) who was trying to protect him. The following day, the population of Aliabad and other localities of Hunza rose up, clashing with the police. On August 19, in an attempt to silence the protesters and conceal these murders from public view, 36 people were picked up by police, then another 33 were picked up on September 16.

After initially avoiding arrest, Baba Jan gave himself up to authorities – not because he has committed any crime, but under threat of being “disappeared” if he was captured, a victim of an “extrajudicial execution”. The judge had sent Baba Jan to prison on judicial remand. However, he dragged from his by the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and tortured for two days – suspended by ropes and severely beaten – in an attempt to extract false confessions from him.

We are aware that these events in Gilgit-Baltistan have featured on the front pages of Pakistan’s national press, as they should have: the inhumane treatment of Baba Jan and the other prisoners, whose only “crime” was to speak up for the basic human rights of fellow Pakistanis, has outraged all those who respect democracy and justice.

We in Australia have joined the international campaign to demand the immediate and unconditional release of Jan Baba and the other prisoners.

(Video Source via Youtube)Baba Jan’s message to the people and government [Video recorded before his arrest]

We also join with the Asian Human Rights Commission in calling for an end to the repression in Gilgit-Baltistan, and insist that the government of Pakistan prosecutes the police and intelligence officials responsible for these violations of human rights.

We ask you to insist to your government that the false charges against the demonstrators be dropped, and that full compensation be paid to all the people affected by the landslide of July 4, 2010.

(Video Source via Youtube) Baba Jan’s message to the youth [Video recorded before his arrest]

We look forward to your swift response on this issue, and to receiving your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Boyle
National Convener
Socialist Alliance

A letter of Brig (Rtd.) Hisamullah Beg in his own hand writing.

Source (Tribune) The killing of a man and his son and the ensuing incidents in Hunza last week widened the rift between Gilgit-Baltistan’s chief minister and assembly speaker, weakening the position of both leaders in the region, sources said on Tuesday.

“The incident at the first instance was a shock for speaker Wazir Baig, who himself belongs to Hunza,” a member of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said, while requesting anonymity. He added that the series of arrests that came in wake of the riots shattered the trust of the speaker who now holds CM Mehdi Shah and his government responsible.

Baig faced relentless criticism from the people of Gojal who had been stranded in the valley due to the formation of the Attabad Lake and the submergence of Karakoram Highway.

The PPP source said that the problems faced by the people, together with the delay in compensation caused huge embarrassment for the speaker being a native of Hunza.

Although he tried his best to come up to people’s expectations, he failed to resolve any issue.

“In addition to these issues, the killings and riots added fuel to fire and Baig burst out at the bureaucracy for hatching conspiracies against his government,” the source added.

The chief minister, in turn, decided to ‘cut Baig to size’ after learning about his ‘unwarranted’ comments, according to the source.