Shoot-on-sight orders in Gilgit curfew after sectarian killing of 17

[AbhimanyuShrivastav]

Shoot-on-sight orders in Gilgit | The Nation

GILGIT - The authorities issued shoot-on-sight orders to the law enforcement agencies to maintain law and order situation after 17 people were killed and more than 50 wounded in sectarian violence in Gilgit-Baltistan on Tuesday.

The attacks led to an army deployment and imposition of curfew in the city, confining the inhabitants to their homes, as the situation turned violent.

The ISPR in a statement said the Army has been summoned to Gilgit to control the law and order situation. The casualties occurred in two separate incidents in the northern towns of Gilgit and Chilas.

In Gilgit, gunmen opened fire during a strike called by Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) over the arrest of one of their leaders, Attaullah Saqib, for his alleged involvement in a sectarian attack in February that left 18 dead.

The rioters ran amok when police refused to release Attaullah Saqib. Angry protesters opened fire and pelted the anti-riot police with stones, leaving several officers injured. Some unknown men hurled hand grenades at Ittehad Chowk that injured two policemen and a passerby. “At least seven people were killed and 50 others were wounded,” said an official.

Senior local police official Ali Sher told AFP the gunmen opened fire on a group of Sunnis appealing to people to close their shops in response to the strike call. It is pertinent to mention here that a complete shutterdown strike was observed against the arrest of Attaullah Saqib, who is said to be chief of Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), Gilgit chapter.

A curfew was imposed in the city after the incident to bring the situation under control, the official said. Soldiers were given orders to shoot at anyone who defied the curfew order, the local media reported.

A total of 14 people have reportedly been arrested in the city following the clashes. In the February incident, gunmen disguised in military fatigues hauled 18 Shias off buses and shot them dead in cold blood in the northern district of Kohistan, which neighbours the Swat valley. A local intelligence official, who did not want to be identified, confirmed Tuesday’s death toll and also said a hand grenade had been used.

“But we still don’t know who the attackers were,” he said. He added that tensions had been mounting between the Shias and Sunnis in recent weeks.

In Bonar Das area of Chilas, a Sunni-dominated town about 100 kilometres south of Gilgit, a mob blocked the main Karakoram Highway and killed ten Shias, local police official Alam Jan said.
“The mob took out ten men from buses and shot them dead,” an official said.
Hundreds of people took to the streets in Chilas protesting the killings in Gilgit, he said, adding that the rioters set four buses on fire.

A local intelligence official confirmed the death toll.

Meanwhile, a police officer and his bodyguard were also injured while driving to a bus station in the city to provide security for the passengers from Rawalpindi.

The deteriorating situation in Chilas had prompted the local authorities to impose a curfew there.
Gilgit is the capital of Gilgit-Baltistan region and is popular with mountaineers as a gateway to the Karakoram and Himalayan mountain ranges.

 

[Bhairava]

Northern Areas was the only region that was pretty insulated from the usual violent acts happening in other parts of Pakistan..but seems the sectarian strife has reached it too.

 

[SHAMK9]

Azadi to the Kasmiris!!!!

u can give freedom to who ever u like, once u learn to spell it right its kashmiris not kasmiris

 

[bandit]

u can give freedom to who ever u like, once u learn to spell it right its kashmiris not kasmiris

Grammar Nazi Fail!!!

 

[chitti]

there is no freedom for kashmiri.

All this Pak talk of Islam and muslim brotherhodd with kashmiri is BS.

Pak is playing a clever game where to the outside world they seem they are supporting kashmiris, but in reality kashmiris are being used for fighting for Pakistan to secure their water. Right now under IWT, india is denying kashmir their water and giving to Pak.

If kashmir gets feedom, Pak will not allow it. Because then kashmir will draw more water from Indus and Jhelum, which will reduce Pak water. Also Chenab will be in india (Jammu) so Pak will lost water and thats not acceptable.

If kashmir belongs to Pak then Punjabis will opress kashmiris and will still continue to deny them the water and will waste this resource even worse than now.
So best bet for kasmiri prosperity is to stay with India.

 

[Ammyy]

there is no freedom for kashmiri.

All this Pak talk of Islam and muslim brotherhodd with kashmiri is BS.

Pak is playing a clever game where to the outside world they seem they are supporting kashmiris, but in reality kashmiris are being used for fighting for Pakistan to secure their water. Right now under IWT, india is denying kashmir their water and giving to Pak.

If kashmir gets feedom, Pak will not allow it. Because then kashmir will draw more water from Indus and Jhelum, which will reduce Pak water. Also Chenab will be in india (Jammu) so Pak will lost water and thats not acceptable.

If kashmir belongs to Pak then Punjabis will opress kashmiris and will still continue to deny them the water and will waste this resource even worse than now.
So best bet for kasmiri prosperity is to stay with India.

Muslim Brotherhood my foot

Just look at comment of Pakistani members about Chinese muslim you will find out reality

 

[Roybot]

Around 60% of Gilgit and 95% of Baltistan is Shia. These Sunni militant groups should keep up their work, will help India's cause

 

[Awesome]

Too little too late and hence a heavy hand had to be used. These sectarian groups are the #1 terror groups in Pakistan and a threat to Pakistan's existence.

 

[jayron]

Around 60% of Gilgit and 95% of Baltistan is Shia. These Sunni militant groups should keep up with their work, will help India's cause

Unlike Indian Kashmir, Pakistan has no law to prevent outsiders from settling Or buying land in Pakistani Kashmir. Not only did they let the punjabi horde take over azad Kashmir and sold aksai chin to Chinese but they also cut a the GB part of Kashmir to merge it with the rest of Pakistan. The mutilation of "azad"Kashmir is now complete.

 

[Awesome]

Unlike Indian Kashmir, Pakistan has no law to prevent outsiders from settling Or buying land in Pakistani Kashmir. Not only did they let the punjabi horde take over azad Kashmir and sold aksai chin to Chinese but they also cut a the GB part of Kashmir to merge it with the rest of Pakistan. The mutilation of "azad"Kashmir is now complete.

What the hell do you mean by Punjabi horde?

 

[Bhairava]

What the hell do you mean by Punjabi horde?

He probably meant the steady demograhic alteration in the "disputed territories" by allowing Pakistanis (mostly Punjabis) to settle in them.

 

[Awesome]

He probably meant the steady demograhic alteration in the "disputed territories" by allowing Pakistanis (mostly Punjabis) to settle in them.

Kashmiris can come settle in Pakistan too - Nawaz Sharif a Kashmiri became PM of Pakistan - twice! It's all open.

 

[bandit]

Kashmiris can come settle in Pakistan too - Nawaz Sharif a Kashmiri became PM of Pakistan - twice! It's all open.

That renders the plebiscite demand worthless.

 

[mr42O]

Northern Areas was the only region that was pretty insulated from the usual violent acts happening in other parts of Pakistan..but seems the sectarian strife has reached it too.

Dont comment about stuff u dont know. I studied with some friends from Sakrdu and Gilgit in 1990s and there has alawys been isse between shia's and sunnie's . Last few years it was better but seems to getting back now why ? In those days its was russia and now days we all know who are behind these crimes

 

[Jango]

Too little too late and hence a heavy hand had to be used. These sectarian groups are the #1 terror groups in Pakistan and a threat to Pakistan's existence.

This should have been dealt with a long time ago. But then , the same Human rights groups and media would have got on the back of this campaign, and create a negative view. When terrorists get arrested, and not produced in court, the media cries foul.

Now shoot on sight orders, people might get killed, and you have another backlash.

P.S, can you delete these free Kashmir photos and other off-topic posts, what has it got to do with the topic?

He probably meant the steady demograhic alteration in the "disputed territories" by allowing Pakistanis (mostly Punjabis) to settle in them.

What the hell are you talking about?

Azad Kashmir is a part of pakistan, even I have close relatives from there, and Kashmiris come into interior Pakistan, and Pakistanis go there, not Punjabis. Get aware of the facts first, then talk.