GILGIT BALTISTAN: Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentary leader in the Senate Sherry Rehman while condemning shelling and firing at peaceful protestors in Gilgit Baltistan(GB) said PM Imran Khan would be responsible for any law order situation created in the region.
As per details, a protest organized by the Pakistan People’s Party in Gilgit Baltistan against alleged rigging during recently concluded polls turned violent on Monday after unidentified men torched government vehicles and tried to storm the Civil Secretariat building in the region.
Sherry Rehman said that the PPP has the right to hold peaceful protests over rigging in recent GB polls. She blamed the chief election commissioner of the GB for having links with the PTI and said that they would not allow a repeat of the 2018 polls episode in the region.
The PPP leader alleged that ballot boxes were stolen in GBLA-21 from where Ayub Shah fought the election on a PPP ticket and a first information report was lodged regarding this. “How can the so-called Election Commission ignore this kind of open and naked rigging?”
According to sources from the GB information department, the PPP supporters staged a protest during the process, some government vehicles were torched. The protestors also tried to storm the Civil Secretariat building in Gilgit, the source said.
However, those who burned the government vehicles were yet to be ascertained. “Police are tracing them and will arrest the culprits involved in the entire violent episode soon,” the official added.
Meanwhile, PPP’s information secretary for GB Saadia Danish said the violence started after a clash between security forces and protesters. He said there were no injuries and no one had been arrested. Police have sealed off roads in the region.
Saadia said that several workers of the PPP were injured from tear gas shelling by police. He said demonstrations will be held in 12 districts from tomorrow.
She said that party workers had arranged a peaceful protest against alleged rigging in GBLA-II but the police used force to stop them.
She said police resorted to baton-charge and aerial firing, which led to the disruption of peace. She held the local administration responsible for the law and order situation.
