The sudden increase in prices of wheat sparked protests in Gilgit-Baltistan against the provincial and federal governments. This has led to everything coming to a stop for the past three days, with businesses closing and traffic halted due to a strike.
The Awami Action Committee (AAC) had issued the protest call as part of Plan B in its ongoing movement, which had been active for the past month.
The demands outlined in the AAC’s charter include the cancellation of all leases granted to external entities for mineral exploration, allocating 80 percent of the Diamer-Bhasha Dam’s royalty under net hydel profit to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan, ensuring a consistent electricity supply to residents, and establishing medical and engineering colleges in the region.
On Sunday, protests were organized across multiple districts in the region, spanning Astore, Diamer, Ghizer, Hunza, Nagar, Skardu, Shigar, Kharmang, and Ghanche.
Major roads such as Karakoram Highway, Skardu Road, and Ghizer Road appeared deserted as demonstrations unfolded on different segments of these routes.
Protest marches advanced towards Gilgit from Nagar, Astore, and Diamer districts. Similarly, demonstrations were conducted in different parts of Skardu and proceeded to unite at the central protest site, Yadgar-i-Shuhada Skardu, where the daily sit-in protest entered its 32nd day over the weekend.
In a display of solidarity, hundreds of individuals on motorcycles rallied from Hunza and Ghizer districts, converging in Gilgit before uniting with the central protest at Ittehad Chowk. Locals warmly welcomed the rally participants at various points along the journey.
Experts deem it a historic and effective strike and protest in Gilgit-Baltistan’s history, with thousands actively participating in protest rallies. Everyday activities in Gilgit-Baltistan came to a standstill throughout the region.
Speaking to the gathering at Etihad Chowk, Advocate Ehsan Ali, the chief organizer of AAC highlighted the historical context, he emphasized that Gilgit-Baltistan had been receiving subsidies on ten essential items since the 1970s. Over time, these subsidies were gradually eliminated, and currently, the sole remaining subsidy on wheat for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan was also being withdrawn, which he deemed as unjust.
Advocate Ehsan Ali argued that it was a universal principle that in the absence of constitutional rights and facilities, the state should provide subsidies to residents and refrain from imposing taxes on them. He emphasized the importance of upholding this principle for the welfare and fairness in the governance of Gilgit-Baltistan.
