Clerics from Pakistan step in to resolve Gilgit-Baltistan’s simmering crisis

GILGIT: In a significant move to bolster peace efforts in the tumultuous region of Gilgit-Baltistan, a delegation of prominent clerics from across Pakistan met with the local religious leaders to ease the overall tense situation in the region, said Interior Minister Shams Lone.

The delegation who arrived in Gilgit on Monday included Jamaat Ashaat-o-Toheed-o-Sunnah Ameer Maulana Muhammad Tayyab Tahiri, Ruet-i-Hilal Committee Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad and Shia Ulema Council (SUC) Secretary General Allama Shabbir Hassan Maisami.

The delegation arrived in Gilgit as three clerics from different schools of thought had made controversial remarks over the past few weeks leading to large-scale protests over hurting the feelings of the respective communities.

While Talking to Hum News English, GB’s home minister said that local religious leaders Agha Rahat Hussain al-Hussaini and Qazi Nisar have responded positively. He hoped the issue would be amicably resolved in two to three days.

Lone, however, blamed India to be behind the recent sectarian unrest. “I can categorically say that India is behind all this. It is unfortunate that the Indian media is using this situation to defame Pakistan,” he added.

Underlining the government’s approach to fostering peace through dialogue and negotiations, Lone urged scholars, politicians, and political, social, and religious figures to cooperate to maintain tranquility in the region. The minister claimed that the overall situation in the region was under control.

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Talking about government action to curb the spread of malicious content on social media, Lone said that at least 18 policemen had been suspended for spreading hatred.

A departmental inquiry has also been launched against them, he said noting that the scope of indiscriminate action against the misuse of social media would also be broadened to the general public.

The situation turned tense last month when demonstrations were held across Gilgit-Baltistan on the call of religious groups, hours after two clerics from Baltistan — Agha Baqir al-Hussaini and Shaikh Sharafat Hussain — allegedly made “contoversial remarks” during two different gatherings.

Protestors took to the streets in Gilgit, Astore, and Diamer, demanding action against the clerics. In Diamer, protestors blocked the Babusar Pass Road and the Karakoram Highway, the only artery to connect the region with the rest of Pakistan, for three days, demanding Agha Baqir’s arrest.

The situation turned worse on September 1, when protests were held in Gilgit and Baltistan on the call of Anjuman-i-Imamia, hours after prominent cleric Maulana Qazi Nisar Ahmed allegedly made “controversial remarks” during a rally in Gilgit. The protesters were demanding action against Nisar. First information reports (FIRs) have been registered against all the clerics. However, no arrest has been made in this regard.

Adding to the overall tense situation, on Sunday, Imam Juma Waljamat Imamia Masjid Gilgit Agha Rahat Hussain al-Hussaini announced his withdrawal from all the peace agreements signed since 2005, saying that the “curser will be dealt with according to Sahariat.”

He asked the Karakoram International University students to hold the “Youm-e-Hussain” programme at the varsity.

Following this, the students held the programme on Monday at the university courtyard. The programme had been one of the bone contentions between the two communities over the past few years. Al-Hussaini has also announced the shift of all the Chehlum processions to Gilgit.

On Monday, Gilgit Deputy Commissioner Amir Azam said that contrary to social media speculations, the situation in the city was “tense but not out of control.”

While Talking to Hum News English, he said schools, colleges, markets and roads were open, displaying a sense of normalcy. “Due to ongoing efforts of district administration, not a single pot was broken. The protests were peaceful,” he added.

Azam said that section 144 had been imposed across the region to maintain the law and order, protect the lives and property of the people, and avoid any untoward incident. The DC said that the administration was monitoring miscreants and that indiscriminate action would be taken against them. “Eight people have been sent to jail under maintenance of public order for the misuse of social media,” he added.

Implications on tourism

When asked about the implications of the recent situation in the tourism sector, Shams Lone said that the inflow of tourists had drastically dropped from 13,000 to 80 persons per day during the last few days.

“This is alarming as the livelihood of the majority depends on this sector,” he said. He was optimistic that the situation would improve in a few days.