Skardu Police has arrested Ghulam Shehzad Agha, the secretary General Gilgit Baltistan United Moment. Ghulam Shezhad Agha is a nationalist leader of GB.

Chairman of the Gilgit Baltistan United Movement Manzoor Hussain Parwana has confirmed Aga’s arrest. Mnazoor Parwana said Agha has been arrested on false charges.

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 (Pamirtimes) The Gilgit Police has displayed photographs of “terrorists” printed on Panaflex banners at five public places  in the city.

According to information, the banners were displayed at five locations on late Thursday on the order of district administration.

The action has been taken in view of the new wave of unrest in the capital city of Gilgit – Baltistan, in which at least two people, including a Jail warden, have been killed and two more have been injured, during the past 48 hours.

Today unknown people opened fire on a shopkeeper in the Bazar area. The shopkeeper sustained bullet injury in his leg. Traders blocked the road in protest and chanted slogans against the government and Gilgit administration.

The role of administration is criticized after almost every incident of terrorism in the city, but things have gone from bad to worst during the past decade. Murder and terrorism have become a routine activity in the city. Several incidents of violence have also taken place during the last year in Skardu, normally a peaceful city.

Source (AP) Pakistan forced an Indian military helicopter to land Sunday for violating its airspace near the disputed border with Kashmir and briefly took its four-member crew into custody, Pakistani military officials said. India said the helicopter veered off course because of bad weather, and Pakistan allowed the aircraft to return soon after the incident. Pakistan and India are rival nuclear powers who have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947. The relationship has improved somewhat in recent months, especially regarding trade, but there is still significant distrust on both sides. The helicopter was intercepted about 12 miles (20 kilometers) inside Pakistani territory, said a Pakistani military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue. It was forced to land near Skardu, a town in Gilgit-Baltistan that is close to K2, the second highest mountain in the world, said Pakistan army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas. Skardu is about 60 miles (100 kilometers) north of U.N.-drawn Line of Control separating Kashmir into areas controlled by Pakistan and India. India said the helicopter strayed across the Line of Control because of bad weather and landed in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, according to a statement on the Ministry of External Affairs website. The three pilots and their crew chief were taken into custody but were later allowed to return home with their helicopter, said Abbas. Two of the three wars between Pakistan and India have been fought over Kashmir, a disputed Himalayan territory. Both countries claim all of Kashmir.

Source (Pamir Times) Office of a newspaper, “Daily K2″, has been attacked by a gang of around 15 people in Skardu, the headquarter of Baltistan division. The attackers broke into the office and tied the security guard to chair, before smashing the furniture and fixtures.

Daily k2 website http://www.dailyk2.com

A source at Karakuram Publishing Network (KPN) told that the police did not show up despite of being in vicinity of the office. He blamed Chief Minister Mehdi Shah for the attack, saying the attackers were his men. It is pertinent to note that earlier an employee of of K2 had been detained by the police. The police had also raided office of KPN and taken several files and records with them. The tussle has started after Daily K2 reported an incident of gang rape in Rondu, which the alleged ‘victim’ later denied at the Supreme Appellate Court. Police sources have said that the raid was conducted according to court orders. The latest attack on Daily K2 has shocked the journalist fraternity across Gilgit – Baltistan and Pakistan, who have condemned the action and termed it to be equal to suppressing the right of free speech. Journalists in Gilgit have, reportedly, announced to stage a protest demonstration in front of the Chief Minister House, located next to the Gilgit – Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA).

Source(Shabbir Mir – Express Tribune) Gilgit-Baltistan’s chief secretary has been asked by the region’s Supreme Appellate Court to update the court on the status of designating Gilgit and Skardu as ‘A’ class cities, The Express Tribune learnt on Tuesday.

“The reminder has been issued today to the chief secretary and other officials,” sources in Gilgit-Baltistan’s apex court said. The officials did not want to be identified because they are not authorised to make official statements to the media.

“The issue has already been delayed,” said an official, adding that the government is bound to report back to the court after checking the matter with the concerned officials at the Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas department. (Kana)

Upgrading Gilgit and Skardu to ‘A’ class cities or big cities had been promised by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in 2009 on the eve of general elections for the region’s legislative assembly.

Political experts had then said that the promise had been made just to woo votes for the Pakistan Peoples Party, which later grabbed the majority of seats and formed the government. Though the PPP won the elections with a clear majority, it has not delivered on its promise.

Sources said the Gilgit-Baltistan Judicial (Policymaking) Committee had in 2009 forwarded the recommendations of the committee to Kana asking it to inform the court about the decision on the issue of declaring Gilgit as an ‘A’ class city. “But no response has ever been received to this effect from the department,” officials said.

Well-placed sources in the Gilgit-Baltistan government said Skardu, the hometown of Chief Minister Mehdi Shah, will be made an ‘A’ class city although Gilgit is the historical headquarters of the region.

Author : Ghulam Mehdi
From : Leh (Ladakh) India
Occupation : Scholar
Cell No. -
Email: mehdi10293@yahoomail.com

With reference to the two day session of LAHDC (Leh), in this session several issues were raised by the opposition party related to development in LADAKH and on the other hand they show dis satisfactory over the performance of LUTF, the reason may be preparation for the coming elections. In this session some members from the opposition party raised question on the performance of Mr. Khan who is Executive Councilor Minority Affair for his alleged involvement in diverting fund for the promotion and preservation of Balti culture and also raised question that he is involved in swindling funds in the name of Skarchen Association.

I am along with hundreds of other people from Nobra being voluntary members of the Skarchen Organization; never accept such allegation against our Organization.

There is strong reason for this, that Skarchen is not with Ghulam Hussian alone, who is now targeted by the opposition party, because he is actively participate in previous election and voluntarily work for the entire region. There is a person who is associated with Skarchen Organization, some people from Turtuk Village itself. So whatever allegation they have put before the Hill Council is baseless and if some funds are released for the preservation and promotion of Balti culture and tradition. What’s wrong with that, every community part of LAHDC and Baltis are not outsider, if they think so that means they question on their nationality and they are against the progress of the entire Muslim community. Skarchen did lot for the development Turtuk region in particular and entire Nobra valley in general, we never forget the achievement of the organization, no doubt there is some interest behind the work but people aware of its consequences and shortfall.

Same what SECMOL did for Ladakh, Skarchen for Nobra valley, the down fall of the SECMOL is also due to strong opposition from political parties and involvement of politics in the Organization, the conflict of politician with NGO worker is not new in Ladakh.

The writer who is scholar and social activist belongs to Balti Community.

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