Protests and street fighting in Gahkuch, Ghizar
PT Report
Gahkuch, September 6: Hundreds of protesters in Gahkuch took to the streets chanting slogans against the district Superintendent of Police (SP) for alleged derogatory remarks against the people of Ghizar.
According to details the SP used abusive language against people of Ghizar yesterday in Gahkcuh where a group of people had gathered to obtain flour and wheat bags provided by the Civil Supplies Department.
According to a person, who was present in Gahkuch yesterday but did not want to be identified, some people accused the SP of favoring people belonging to a particular sect over the other during distribution of wheat and flour bags. The SP allegedly used abusive language against the people of Ghizar and warned them of dire consequences. A section of the enraged public, reportedly, manhandled the SP and forced closure of markets in protest.
Later a scuffle between the opponents and supporters of the said SP ensued creating law and order situation in the otherwise quiet and peaceful district headquarter.
According to Gahkuch and Gilgit based sources dozens of people have been injured in organized street fights in Gahkuch between the two groups since yesterday.
Well this is unfortunate accident, as the ghizer district is and was quite peaceful, and the youth, literati and elders all wish to sustain and maintain peace in this district.
the recent disaster has hard-hit parts of the district, mainly in the upper parts, but also parts of Gakouch and Damas. There is a need for the government and the local administration to focus on helping the affected people.
As in other parts of the country and GB, some unethical businessman thrive on the disasters and are sometime supported by petty officials in many instances.
For example in GB the floor mills get subsidized wheat from the government, grind it and provide subsidized flour to the people through the designated sale points or depots. However in some cases, it is blamed that, in the month of Ramadan, some mills grind it, repackage it and sell it in the market (sometimes outside the district) at higher prices and make, over 200% profit. When the people ask for their quota, there is always shortage and they are forced to buy it from the market by the name of ‘punjab flour’ or any other label.
When these issues are raised by the youth and the people, these very interests give it different colours including sectarian or local vs non local businessmen etc.