Gilgit Baltistan: State agencies are involved in sectarian riots

KARACHI: 10 March 2009

Ideological terrorism is being promoted in Gilgit-Baltistan and if the students of the region do not rise to defend the ideological boundaries of the region and defeat those who are hatching conspiracies against the nation then we will lose everything. These views were expressed by Gilgit-Baltistan United Movement (GBUM) chairman Manzoor Hussain Parwana while speaking at a program organized by Balawaristan National Students Organization (BNSO) at the University of Karachi.
He said the history and culture of Gilgit-Baltistan was being distorted, adding America, Israel, Saudi Arab and India were not our enemies but our common
enemies were sectarianism, poverty, unemployment, favoritism, corruption and illiteracy. He said instead of chanting slogans in favour or against any country we should utilize all our resources for the development of our region.
Parwana alleged that government agencies were conspiring to pitch the people of Gilgit-Baltistan against each other on the basis of sectarianism. If the region is once again plunged into the sectarian warfare to complete the agenda of 1988, then the very survival of the region would be at danger, he warned. He said the people of Gilgit-Baltistan should realize the gravity of the situation and promote unity and brotherhood in their ranks to foil the designs of their enemies.
He said peace cannot be ensured in the region unless and until those behind the killing of innocent people in 2005 and conspirators behind the 1988 incident were hanged at the Shuhada Chowk publicly. These incidents should be probed by an independent organization like the UN to ascertain whether state machinery or some non-state elements were behind the spread of sectarian hatred and violence in Gilgit-Baltistan.
He said a delegation of nationalist parties would soon visit all parts of Gilgit-Baltistan to meet people from various walks of life and explore the possibilities of finding a lasting peace in the region because peace committees and jirgas formed by the state have always failed to achieve their objectives.

Issued by
Manzoor Hussain Parwana
Chairman
Gilgit Baltistan United Movement
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