Sit-in enters 31st day in Gilgit

GILGIT: The Awami Action Committee on Thursday announced to continue the protest while rejecting the government's notification to withdraw the recently increased prices of subsidised wheat.

Chief Coordinator Awami Action Committee Ehsan Ali Advocate said that the protest is not on one point but for the implementation of the 15-point Charter of Demand.

Talking to the media, he said that the GB government is not serious about negotiations and the government does not realise the sufferings and problems of the people who have been sitting on dharna for the last one month in the worst cold weather.

Therefore, until all the 15 demands included in the charter of demand are accepted, the sit-would not be called out.

He demanded declaring the Gilgit-Baltistan Finance Act 2023 null and void with immediate effect and immediate abolition of all illegal taxes imposed in GB deprived of constitutional rights.

The charter of demand of the Awami Action Committee also includes the demand for the immediate termination of lease licenses of mineral resources in the name of non-locals and giving 80 percent of the royalty of Diamer Bhasha Dam to the Gilgit-Baltistan government.

It has been demanded that Gilgit-Baltistan should have its own constitution with internal and economic autonomy along with the recognition of the ownership rights of local people on the lands of Gilgit-Baltistan, as well as the establishment of medical and engineering colleges and a women university.

A large number of protesters from Ghazar and Hunza also participated in the sit-in as they came to Gilgit Ittehad Chowk in convoys. Hundreds of people participated in the central sit-in under the leadership of Member Legislative Assembly from Ghazar district and nationalist leader Nawaz Khan Naji, while accommodation has been arranged in mosques and imambargahs of Gilgit and three meals are being arranged for the protesters by the Contractors Association.

The Central President of the Contractors Association Rehmatullah told The News that they will continue to provide food and drink to the protesters who have come to Gilgit for their basic human and democratic rights until the dharna ends.

He said that all the points of the Charter of Demand of the Awami Action Committee are actionable and require immediate solution.