Diamer-Bhasha Dam protesters shut WAPDA, contractor offices

GILGIT: As the protest sit-in over a 31-point charter of demands entered its 18th day on Wednesday, people affected by the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project locked down the offices of WAPDA and a private contractor working at the dam site.

The protesters also warned other contractors to halt their operations today. Maulana Hazratullah, chairman of the committee overseeing the ongoing protest, said that they had already warned the companies working on the dam site to suspend their work until their demands were met. “However, not only did the private contractor continue operations, but they also dismissed 10 to 15 local workers,” he said.

Hazratullah alleged that WPDA deprived them of their rights and left them empty-handed. “Today, we are locking down their luxuries in return. This lock will only be opened once our rights are granted. If our demands are not met, as I have said before, we will make this land uninhabitable for WAPDA,” he warned.

Earlier, while addressing a press conference, Maulana Hazratullah accused the government of lacking seriousness in negotiations with the committee regarding their 31-point demands. He said that despite promises, the authorities had failed to initiate meaningful discussions.

Hazratullah said the government had initially asked the protesters to form a negotiation team, assuring them that a powerful ministerial committee representing both the federal and provincial governments would engage in discussions. However, he said, even after fulfilling this demand and submitting their team’s details, there had been no progress from WAPDA and the government.

“We have sacrificed everything, even our cemeteries and mosques, for this project, and yet elderly people, scholars, and the general public are being forced to endure cold nights during Ramazan in protest against WAPDA’s injustices. But WAPDA remains unmoved, and no serious dialogue has taken place so far,” he added.

Hazratullah urged the people of Diamer to remain prepared for a stronger response. He said that although they had initially postponed their next planned course of action, the government’s continued negligence would force them to take drastic steps. Hazratullah remarked that while government officials were enjoying luxuries in Islamabad, the protesters were left to endure the harsh weather and break their fasts on the streets.

He warned that if the situation remained unchanged, they would soon call for a mass movement, with people mobilizing from every neighborhood, home, and mosque. He demanded the complete shutdown of WAPDA’s operations and those of its consultants until their demands were met.

On February 25, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan, and SAFRON, Engineer Amir Muqam, who is leading a ministerial committee formed to address the grievances of the affected people, reached Chilas via helicopter for dialogue with the protesters. 

The first round of dialogue was held at Karakoram International University’s Diamer Campus. Muqam tied to convince the protesters to postpone their sit-in. However, the protesters demanded that he announce the acceptance of some of their demands before moving on to the next round of dialogue. As a result, the talks ended unsuccessfully. 

Meanwhile, the Gilgit-Baltistan Apex Committee formed two committees to engage with the affected people of the dam project and propose recommendations. The G-B apex panel urged the protesters to form a delegation for structured negotiations. Although the protesters have submitted a list of their committee members, negotiations have yet to begin.