Day 4: Longest strike of Gilgit-Baltistan’s history
Skardu/Gilgit/Hunza/Diamer: The Yadgar Chowk in Skardu remains jam packed during the days with thousands of people who join the sit-in organized by the Awami Action Committee. The government of Gilgit-Baltistan has failed to negotiate with the AAC representatives and bring an end to the strike or accept their charter of demands.
The sit-ins have entered into the fourth day with hundreds of people spending their days and nights at the Yadgar Chowk in Skardu and the historical Garhi Bagh in Gilgit. The Chitral-Shandur Road remained closed. Hundreds of vehicles also remained stuck on the KKH in Hunza –Nagar.
Meanwhile, there are reports that the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan will hold meeting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan to apprise him of the situation in the region and advocate for acceptance of the demands.
Rallies and protest demonstrations are going on in Gahkuch and other parts of the Ghizar district.
Leaders of the PPP, the ruling party in Gigit-Baltistan, have been giving mixed reactions to the strike of the Awami Action Committee, with some condemning it and others supporting it openly.
The Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah has been passing the buck to the Minister of Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs and the federal government, while the reverse is also taking place.
Roads and markets opened in Gilgit city today after two days of closure.
The Gilgit administration has told the media that those seeing permission can be allowed to hold gatherings but Section 144 remains imposed throughout the “province” for a period of one month.
