Trouble in Gilgit

Gilgit's continuing tension

Ahsan Wali Khan

Gilgit town has once again plunged into a state of lawlessness after an attack on a passenger bus near Chilas, in which five people died, on July18, 2005. This led to a spree of tit-for-tat killings, raising the number of fatalities to ten within a week. More than three-dozen people have been killed so far in the current wave of sectarian related killings since January 8th, 2005. The sectarian animosity in the area has made the lives of the majority of innocent people miserable. There is a constant threat of being shot by a fanatic merely because you were born into a different sect. Refusal by certain police officers of SP rank to join duty at Gilgit, with the risk of facing disciplinary action, is seen in the same context. These officers were selected and posted to Gilgit by the federal government to improve the law and order situation.

The area is rife with various conspiracy theories and frightening rumours.

Travelling on the roads has become a nightmare, particularly on the KKH, as it runs through a predominantly Sunni area from Gilgit to Rawalpindi where instances of firing on passenger busses have taken several lives.

Similarly, KKH passes via Shia dominated Nagar valley onwards to Hunza/China, where ex-DIG police, along with his companions, was gunned down.

Insecurity on the KKH has also negatively affected the business and decreased the volume of trade form China. The inflow of foreign tourists had been already reduced to a minimum after 9/11, and the present sectarian strife has further exacerbated the situation. Consequently, hotel owners, transporters and people involved in tourism related ventures are suffering.

Communities that were living together for centuries are now divided on sectarian basis. A large number of people have already abandoned their ancestral homes and properties to move into areas belonging to their own sects.

Unfortunately, most of the abandoned properties have been either looted or burnt and destroyed. People residing in the Basin area have constructed a bridge over the Gilgit River on self-help basis to reach Gilgit city via Konodas to avoid passage through the Shia dominated Ampheri area. Likewise, Shia people have to pass through Sunni dominated Kashrot area having no alternative to reach Gilgit airport without a looming risk.

The government has so far not been able to effectively neutralise the menace of sectarianism, which is gaining strength despite the governmentís claims to the contrary. The presence of a sizeable force consisting of various law-enforcing agencies has yet to yield positive results. This reflects mainly the failure of the intelligence and law-enforcement agencies, perhaps due to the presence of black sheep within their ranks.

These elements hinder successful crackdowns against perpetrators by way of leaking information to their respective sects, and also by acting as catalysts in the sectarian animosity. It is also noted that there is a mix-up between the division of power among the civil and military bureaucracy. The functionaries of the civil administration are shy of taking timely and bold decisions on vital matters due to the military monitoring role in the area.

There is a serious need to check the larger than life image of the sectarian organisations and its leaders. People and organisations involved in sectarian hatred activities ought to be cut down to size. The banning of such organisations may also be considered. At least, the state of their funds, sources of income and the utilisation of these funds require proper auditing and scrutiny. A jirga, aggressively pushed by the government for a cease-fire, involving notable personalities, elected representatives, religious leaders and politicians from both the sects is likely to work. It may consider collecting compensation (khoon-beha) from both sects and pay it to the heirs of those killed since January 8th, 2005.

A comprehensive Charter of Conduct can also be formulated for future implementation, including a clause of levying fines on the sects for future involvements in incidents. Reputed ulema from both the sects belonging to other parts of the country and representatives of the local Ismaili sect can also form part of the proposed Jirga.

Having said that, the government has to come down with an iron hand on the troublemakers and provide security to the life and property of the citizens of not only the area, but of Pakistan. Most of the criminals wanted for sectarian related murders are still at large. Compensation to the people whose possessions were burnt and damaged on January 8th has not yet been paid. The chain of unending revenge killings is likely to multiply the causalities with every passing day. Reportedly, most of the youngsters involved in the present shootings are the children of those killed in the previous conflicts.

Arresting the murderers and bringing them to justice can only pacify the aggrieved families and prevent further lawlessness. Intelligence agencies have to identify the inciters, operatives, perpetrators and the schemers.

All activities of people involved in sectarian hatred, particularly that of government servants, need to be closely monitored. Importantly, the transfer of complete executive powers to the NALC and empowering the chief executive based in Gilgit will ease many difficulties of the government and the people of the area.

The writer is a freelance columnist belonging to Northern Areas.

Email: Ashpaar@hotmail.com