Attabad Anniversary: Activists demand annulment of politically motivated cases, restoration of KKH
Our Correspondent
Islamabad, January 4: Three young activists from Gojal Valley, upper Hunza, staged a protest sit-in in front of the National Press Club in the federal capital. Sitting the whole day in front of a banner, they gave away handouts to media, requesting them to highlight the issues of the people affected by the Attabad landslide and the disasters that unfolded during the last three years.
A resolution handed out to the press stated that the PPP led coalition government in GB had registered dozens of cases against rights activists and affected people, instead of compensating them properly. They said that students and local youth were targeted through registration of FIRs, to keep them silent, in the face of police brutality that led to the death of a father and his 22 year old son in Aliabad, Hunza.
The handout also read that the government had completely mismanaged the disaster response and recovery phases and deprived the people of their rights, while using local police force to keep them silent and oppressed. They also said that the police officer who ordered shooting of two unarmed protesters is free and enjoying the benefits of promotion and other perks. The fate of a judicial investigation into the brutal incident of murder still remains unknown and unheard.
The activists demanded release of water from the dammed Hunza River on war footings. They said that the Gojal Valley’s entire population remains disconnected from other parts of the region. They also said that the Karakoram Highway remains blocked, which is against the national interest of Pakistan, being an international route connecting the country with China.
They also demanded annulment of politically motivated and baseless cases against activists, youth and students.
The resilient folks of Gojal are facing the challenges with brave heart without the required support from the government of Pakistan and GB authorities.FWO shamefully failed to release the damed Attaabad lake and embezzled the huge fund allocated for the project.The people always demanded to get help from international agencies who have the expertise and capability to release the damed water reservoir and rebuild the submerged 30 kilometre Karakuram highway.The people of the region have lost faith with the leadership of PPP and the regional representatives, who have ignored the region for the past 3 years.
Fantastic effort brothers. WE salute ur endless struggle.
I appreciate the devotion, love, and feelings of the three young persons from Gojal Gulmit they raised the voice of sufferings in Islamabad. If you agree with me there is a saying about wakhi people” Aqal Wakhi pas me aiad” it becomes true, we could not forecast the consequences immediately and get irreparable losses. when the then governor GB Mr. Qira was visiting Gulmit Gojal and he mesmerized the people with his baseless sympathies and senseless Commitments and also laughed on the person who had rejected his publicly announcements and asked him to maintain the communication because he has predicted that we will suffer a lot. to day people are cut off from the other parts of Pakistan but the Government has not solved the basic problems of the area, even it could not provide a single doctor to Gulmit Hospital.Don’t loss heart put your strengths together and fight for the rights of the people.
We are unfortunate for not getting united for our right instead we tolerate the injustices and become ally of different political parties then to be friend of Gojal.Our youth and students are raising voices in different cities but most of the folks present in the disaster hit area are just watching and accepting all the odds. Mr.Raza Muhammad was the person who had predicted the intensity of Attabad Disaster and its Impact when his idea was rejected by Mr.Qaira.We should all must be very clear about KKH’s Restoration and Release of water from the artificial lake as the prime objective in our struggle,and we should all come together and monitor what is happening and how we can further improve their pace of work through peaceful means or through protests.