Protesters threaten to halt Diamer-Bhasha Dam construction

GILGIT: The affected people of the Daimer-Bhasha Dam project announced on Tuesday that they would march on the dam site and halt the ongoing construction work if their demands were not met by tomorrow (Wednesday).

Maulana Hazratullah, the chairman of a committee overseeing the ongoing protest, announced a “plan-B of their “Huqooq do, Dam Banao Tehreek” (give rights, build the dam movement).

Addressing the protest, which has entered the 10th consecutive day, he said they were supposed to go to the dam site today and halt all the work, but the federal authorities have sought time until tomorrow and “they hold the next plan until tomorrow”.

 “At their request, we will wait until tomorrow, strengthening our rows. If there is no progress from them by tomorrow after Zuhr prayers, we will start a long march on the dam site,” he announced.

Declaring the “plan-B”, he asked the authorities to stop the Periphery Road construction work from Goharabad to Khanbari after 10am tomorrow.

Hazratullah said companies like Hakas, Nespak, and Bak Consultants should close their offices and stop the transportation of their vehicles and employees.

“If the aforementioned work and offices are not closed by 10 am tomorrow, this sea of people will uproot their walls and throw them away, and will drown their machinery in the river. The entire responsibility will lie with the current government,” he warned.

He said by tomorrow afternoon, if the central ministerial empowered committee did not reach Chilas, they would march on the dam site. Hazratullah announced they would march on the dam site with Ulema leading from the front.

“We will halt all work at the dam site and stage a sit-in until our 31-point charter of demand is implemented in its entirety,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Awami Action Committee (AAC), a coalition of political, religious and nationalist parties working for the rights of the region, announced a long march from Gilgit to express solidarity with ongoing protest in Chilas.

The ACC march will start on February 27.

AAC Chairman Ehsan Ali advocate appealed to the youth, elders, and students of Gilgit-Baltistan to participate in “this historic march.”

The people of Gilgit-Baltistan will now get their rights with the power of their unity and solidarity, he said.

The AAC issued instructions to the leaders of all districts to reach Ghari Bagh in Gilgit, in caravans on the morning of February 27, prior to the start of the long march.

Separately, the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) apex committee has decided to form two high-powered committees to engage with the affected people of the dam project and propose recommendations.

The meeting jointly chaired by G-B Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan and the “Force Commander of Northern Areas” discussed key security and development matters.

The committee urged the representatives of the protest to form a delegation for structured negotiations.

Chief Minister Gulbar Khan directed authorities to expedite public welfare projects to ensure sustainable development and stability in the region. He emphasized the importance of the timely execution of initiatives aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of the people.