Get Adobe Flash player

Hunza

Subscribe to this RSS feed
Hunza

Hunza (21)

Sunday, 18 December 2011 17:01

Dilly-dallying on Attabad lake hurts locals

Written by Bang e Sahar

 

 Dilly-dallying on Attabad lake  hurts locals 
 
By Our Correspondent
GILGIT: Despite incessant demands by the people affected by the Attabad artificial lake for the last over two years, the federal government is still hesitant in inviting international tenders for the widening of the lake's spillways to release the water, citing high cost and lack of funds.
Some weeks back, the chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan Syed Mehdi Shah had informed the legislative assembly that the federal government had expressed its willingness to award the contract of the work to China. However, now sources informed this correspondents that the federal government has again taken a u-turn and given the contract to the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) and also made 70 per cent of the payment to the army-run institution. 
The sources said that the federal government had maintained that China had sought Rs3 billion to widen the spillway and Islamabad was not in a position to pay such a big amount for completing the work.
This is intriguing and shows the government's double standard because exactly one year back China had offered to Islamabad that it would complete the work - widening the spillway - for just Rs150 million but its offer was turned down. Later, more than that amount was dished out to the FWO for finishing the work but so far it has failed even to complete 10 per cent work at the site. The FWO has neither the technology nor the needed machinery through which it can widen the spillway and discharge the standing water of the artificial lake.
It is also intriguing and unfortunate that the issue has so far been raised on the floor of the legislative assembly for umpteenth times and on each occasion the chief minister assured the members that the matter had been taken up with the president and prime minister. However, there has been neither any satisfactory reply to the queries of the members nor any progress of work at the site.
It may be noted that due to the lake the infrastructure of Hunza Nagar has been completely destroyed and trade with China badly affected due to submerging of a portion of the Karakoram Highway. The local residents are facing losses amounting to billions of rupees while hundreds of families remain displaced unable to return to their homes.
The people have also been asking under which heads the federal government ahs been making payments to the FWO which ahs done nothing to open the spillways. The federal government should realize the fact that through its trade with China via the Karakoram Highways it earns billions of revenue each weeks but now it is not ready to pay Rs3 billion for widening of the spillways and discharge the lake water to resolve the matter.

Add your comments
Share
Published in Hunza
Read more...
Sunday, 11 December 2011 13:48

Aliabad tragedy victims still await justice

Written by Bang e Sahar

 

Aliabad tragedy victims still  await justice 
 
By Our Correspondent
 GILGIT: Even after over three months of the tragic incident that occurred at Aliabad, there is no step being taken by the local government to take off the lid on its root causes and the people behind the plot. 
More disappointing is the fact that the masses also seem to be oblivious to the situation as if there was no such incident at all. 
A resident of the area and his son were gunned down by no other than the protectors of the citizens - the police - during a peaceful demonstration by the affected people of the Attabad artificial lake and the devastating floods of 2010 when the chief minister Mehdi Shah was on an official visit to the area. Who were the people that ordered the police to open fire on the unarmed civilians, what was their motif, was the crowd really posed a danger to the chief minister or there were some other reasons behind the cold-blooded killing of the poor man and his son. These are the questions which still remain un-answered.
It also needs to be probed that who had given permission to the organizers to hold the protest demonstration when the chief minister was visiting the area and who was behind mobilizing the people on that day. Normally, when a VVIP is visiting any area, the local administration and the law enforcement agencies never allow people to gather and impose section 144 there. But the residents say that the protesters, included the affected people of the Attabad Lake and the 2010 floods, were there with the hope to convey their grievances to the chief minister during his visit to the area.
Though the chief minister slipped away from the scene successfully, violence broke out in the area and the government saw hard days to maintain law and order there. In order to pacify the angry people, the regime later announced formation of a judicial commission to probe into the incident and expose those behind the tragedy. It also promised that those found guilty by the commission would be taken to task. However, many weeks have already passed since the commission completed its report and submitted it to the government but still its contents have not been made public by the government let alone any action against the perpetrators. 
This has further created doubts among the public that there were some elements who were still trying to protect the responsible officials behind the killing of the two persons.
It is also intriguing that the government despite repeated promises has failed to take action against DSP Babar and his men for opening fire on the peaceful demonstrators. The government had said that soon after receiving the report of the commission, action would be taken against the responsible persons. However, the Mehdi Shah government has also failed to fulfill this promise further creating anger among the residents.
It is time the government avoided further dragging its feet on the matter and besides making the judicial commission's report public take action against those who were responsible for the killing of the two innocent persons, so that justice is provided to their families and such incidents do not occur in future. 

Add your comments
Share
Published in Hunza
Read more...
Sunday, 25 September 2011 14:43

Anti-govt movement on cards

Written by Bang e Sahar

 

Anti-govt movement on cards  
 
By Our Correspondent
 GILGIT: The residents of Hunza valley, marred by recent violence, have decided to launch a mass movement against raids on houses and arrests of locals. "This was decided in a meeting organised by the Hunza Peace Committee," said Mujahid, a resident of Hunza.
The Hunza Peace Committee announced in its' meeting that it will launch protests and long marches as part of a mass movement to register their opposition to raids and arrests being made by police since the last month, "We will be adopting all possible means to protest against the biased attitude of the government," said the committee leaders.
Last month, two protestors - a father and son - died after the police opened fire to disperse a crowd assembled to protest the non-payment of compensation to the Attabad Lake affected people just before the chief minister visited Hunza.
The killings triggered riots followed by looting and plundering of public property by a violent mob. Since then, the police have arrested dozens of residents after conducting raids in the valley.
Among other leaders, the meeting was addressed by Sheikh Abid, Wazir Mujahidullah, and Brigadier (retd) Hassamullah, who vowed to visit the valley to gather maximum public support for their movement. The deceased's family said that after losing their loved ones, they now face persecution and arrest.
Earlier this week, Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Legislative Assembly Speaker Wazir Baig, who also hails from Hunza, voiced concern over the arrests of people, terming it a ploy against his government.
Finance Minister Mohammad Ali Akhtar insisted that the culprits have caused losses to the government exchequer and would be held accountable.-Express Tribune
 
 
 
 
 

Add your comments
Share
Published in Hunza
Read more...
Sunday, 18 September 2011 15:41

ہنزہ کے موجودہ حالات کے بارے میںایک حق پرست بیٹی کے خیالات

Written by Bang e Sahar


Add your comments
Share
Published in Hunza
Read more...
Saturday, 27 August 2011 19:09

Speaker’s role in Hunza crisis criticized

Written by Bang e Sahar

 

Speaker’s role in Hunza crisis criticized

 

By Our Correspondent

 

GILGIT: A consultative committee of the people of Hunza led by Wazir Mujahid Hussain came to Gilgit to meet the speaker of the legislative assembly Wazir Baig, who also hails from the same area, to discuss the issue of the recent disturbance in the valley and get the arrested youth released.

However, the speaker turned them away saying that he was unable to do anything in this case and the delegation should approach the inspector general of police.

The delegation also demanded arrest of the DSP who ordered the police to open fire on the protesters during the visit of the chief minister to the area, killing two residents - a father and his son. They also sought assurance that no more persons would be arrested from the area.

One of the charges against the 17 people arrested from the area was the disappearance of weapons from the Hunza police station. But the delegation alleged that PPP Hunza president Fida Karim and Nambardar Aslam were involved in the missing of the weapons.

The Hunza delegation said if their demands were not met, the masses of the valley would rise and the government would be responsible for any untoward incident.

It may be noted that the role of the speaker in the incident ahs been disappointing. The people of the region should now realize that they had elected Wazir Baig from the area but the latter failed to come to their rescue and provide them justice when they needed it the most.

Here we would like to request the Inspector General of Police, Hussain Asghar, to establish his integrity and professionalism and ensure holding of transparent and across the board investigation into the incident and provide justice to the victims.

 

Ghizer’s transport issues

 

By Our Correspondent

 

GAHKUCH: Due to the apathy of the municipal corporation and other authorities concerned, the bus terminal here has become a den of problems for passengers, transporters and the drivers.

According to officials, about 200 transport vehicles leave and come to the bus stand serving various localities in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral. But when one enters the terminal, its sorry state of affairs shows that there is no one to take care of the facility. There is neither any waiting room nor drinking water what to talk of other facilities like toilets etc.

Besides, taxi drivers have also set up their own stand inside the terminal, further creating problems for the commuters, and there is no one to take action against them.

It is time the civic agencies played their role and ensure availability of all basic facilities in the bus terminal so that commuters, especially women and the elderly can reach their destination in an comfortable manner.

 


Add your comments
Share
Published in Hunza
Read more...
Saturday, 27 August 2011 19:02

No trust on peace body

Written by Bang e Sahar

 

No trust on peace body

 

By Our Correspondent

 

GILGIT: The chairman of the coordination committee of Gojal affected people, Jehangir Shah, has said government stooges were included in the peace committee of Hunza who were trying to divide the local people on different lines.

He said the government agencies were warning him of dire consequences, adding the people of the valley should rise against such injustices and sabotage the bids to spread terrorism in the region.

Talking to this correspondent here, he said the government’s continuous crackdown on the residents and arrest of the youth was tantamount to incite violence in the otherwise peaceful region.

He said the speaker of the assembly, Wazir Baig, was also responsible for the law and order situation. He said Mr Baig had given a free hand to the Jialas of the PPP in the region


Add your comments
Share
Published in Hunza
Read more...
Sunday, 07 August 2011 19:23

Sectarian strife visits Gojal valley

Written by Bang e Sahar

Sectarian strife visits Gojal valley

 

Report Gohar Abbas

 

SLAMABAD: Sectarian strife visited Hunza-Nagar district of Gilgit-Baltistan for the first time in history when around 400 armed people attacked the besieged Gojal valley destroying religious worshiping places, local shops and the local people.

According to details, around 400 people from the Shia dominated Nagar valley armed with Klashinkov and AK 47s attacked Gojal valley on the other bank of Attaabad lake destroying the local buildings, worship places and looting the local shops.

The local youth of Gojal tried to resist and a number of them were seriously wounded in the fight; three of whom were in critical condition.

Talking to this scribe, Wazir Aman, a local shop owner, said he was going out of his home when he saw smokes fuming from his shop. “When I went there, they were hundreds of people there who thrashed me saying I was an infidel,” he added. Lying on bed in the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital of Gojal, Wazir said he had never dreamed that sectarian violence will visit the valley some day.

Gojal Tehsil houses completely Ismaili Muslims while Nagar region is inhabited by 100 per cent Shia Muslims.

Karim Aman, another eyewitness of the incident, said he heard people chanting religious slogans in the middle of the night, so he ventured out to know what was happening. “I saw hundreds of people scuffling with each other while some were opening aerial firing and I rushed to them but fell unconscious when a stone hit me on my head,” he added.

The local administration has imposed section 144 in Huzna-Nagar but the Islaimli community held a protest demonstration in Aliabad, the main town defining the government orders.

Hussain Jami, incharge of the Gulmit police station, while talking to this scribe said some labourers at the bank of Attabad lake had scuffled over a petty issue in the evening which later turned into a sectarian violence.

He claimed the area was under control, saying the police were carrying search operation for the culprits while it had already rounded up over a dozen people on suspicion.


Add your comments
Share
Published in Hunza
Read more...
Friday, 06 May 2011 04:40

ہنزہ نگر ہیڈ کوارٹر کے تعین کا معاملہ وزیرقانون و منصوبہ بندی وزیر شکیل احمدا یڈووکیٹ کے سرپر ڈال دیا

Written by Bang e Sahar


Add your comments
Share
Published in Hunza
Read more...
Sunday, 24 April 2011 10:38

Another move to divide masses

Written by Bang e Sahar

 

Another move to divide masses  
By Our Correspondent 
 GILGIT: A conspiracy has been prepared to divide the people of Hunza and Nagar over the issue of selecting headquarters for the newly-created district.
The district of Hunza-Nagar was created during the government of Pervez Musharraf and after coming to power the present government issued the notification of the new district. However, even after the passage of about two years, no decision has been taken on where the headquarters of the new district would be located, deliberately creating schism among the people of the region. Social and political circles of the region are of the view that the rulers are trying to make a mountain out of a molehill just to divide the locals on sectarian and regional basis.
It may be noted that in the past too similar tactics were used in Astor due to which scores of people lost their lives.
Public representatives in a meeting held in Gilgit the other day could not reach a decision about the site for establishing headquarters of the Hunza Nagar district, which was essential to starting construction of government offices for the administration and other departments. 
The meeting decided that the law minister and other members would visit the area to select a suitable place for construction of government offices.
Some participants of the meeting said people of the area would suffer in case the headquarters was set up in Sumayar or Askurdas.
The finance minister said if the headquarters was established at any site other than Aliabad it would not be suitable, as residents of his constituency would not benefit from the creation of new district. Mirza Hussain called for establishment of headquarters at Sumayar.

Add your comments
Share
Published in Hunza
Read more...
Sunday, 24 April 2011 10:28

Lok Virsa displays Wakhi culture

Written by Bang e Sahar

 

Lok Virsa displays Wakhi culture   
 By Our Coresspondent
 ISLAMABAD: A three-dimensional creative display depicting the indigenous folk culture, traditions and lifestyle of the Wakhi/Pamiri community living in the Gilgit-Baltistan region has been created here at the Lok Virsa Heritage Museum.
 
The diorama is established under the ongoing joint institutional cooperation programme between Pakistan and Norway, which facilitates Lok Virsa to undertake improvement and expansion of the existing cultural displays at the Pakistan National Museum of Ethnology (Heritage Museum) showcasing Pakistan's magnificent living heritage.
One can see here a complete traditional Wakhi house with all its paraphernalia including kitchen utensils, traditional male and female dresses and headgears, agricultural tools, carved wooden pillars, stove, old guns, etc.
Explaining about the community, Executive Director Lok Virsa Khalid Javaid informed that the Wakhi people were originally native to the area between the Hindu Kush and the Pamir mountains. The name "Wakhi" is derived from the name of their traditional homeland - the Wakhan corridor.
This ethnic group now resides in south east Tajikistan, Xingjian province of China as well as in the northern parts of Pakistan. They are found in the north of Chitral, Ishkoman and Gojal districts of Hunza.
"Pakistan is a land with unique ethnic diversity, specifically on the basis of language. The diorama focuses on the distinct features of the Wakhi community. The present Wakhi settlers have come to Chitral at various times. Under British rule, the Wakhi immigrants settled in different parts of Chitral and now their majority lives in Gojal tehsil of Hunza," he said, adding they celebrate different festivals which have deep routed connections with the local traditions. For instance, Pathik festival is celebrated at the end of March to welcome arrival of spring. The houses are cleaned from smoke stains and everybody wears new or at least clean clothes. 
The homes are decorated with pictures on the walls made from flour while the elder person of the family or locality comes and congratulates the family members and special prayers are also held in Jamaat Khanas and sports competitions are arranged.
 
The Wakhi immigrants have also contributed a lot to the cultural traditions of the beautiful Chitral valley. They introduced a peculiar type of overcoat called Warang prepared with goat or deer skin which was later also adopted by other communities of Chitral. Likewise, a musical instrument named Gharba was also introduced by the Wakhi community which was earlier used in religious functions, mostly to play Sufi poetry, he added.
Lok Virsa's chief acknowledged the support and contribution of the Royal Norwegian Government, in particular their mission in Islamabad for supporting Lok Virsa in documenting, preserving and promoting the regional folk culture and languages of various provinces/ regions adding that "without their funding, it was not possible for his organization to deliver this national task".
 
 

Add your comments
Share
Published in Hunza
Read more...
<< Start < Prev 1 > >>
Page 1 of 2

Comments

Subscribe to this RSS feed

Login

feed-image

Copyright © 2013. All Rights Reserved.