Our Correspondent
Gilgit
A protest held by the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Gilgit-Baltistan against alleged rigging during the recently concluded polls turned violent on Monday, after unidentified men torched government vehicles and tried to storm the Civil Secretariat building.
A spokesman for the interim Gilgit Baltistan government, Faizullah Firaq said that the PPP staged a protest in the region and during the process, some government vehicles were torched.
“The protestors also tried to storm the Civil Secretariat building in Gilgit,” he said while vowing to take strict legal action against the violent acts, a news channel said.
He, however, said that those who burned the government vehicles were still not known. “We are tracing them and will arrest the culprits involved in the entire violent episode soon,” the spokesman said.
While urging the protestors to choose a legal path for redressal of their issues, Faizullah Firaq said that they have no other option than that.
Meanwhile, on the other hand, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman while condemning shelling and firing at peaceful protestors said that the PPP has the right to hold peaceful protest over rigging in GB polls.
She blamed the chief election commissioner of the GB for having links with the PTI and said that they would not allow a repeat of the 2018 polls episode in Gilgit Baltistan.
She further said that Prime Minister Imran Khan would be responsible for any law order situation created in the region owing to the federal government’s involvement in rigging during the polls.
PPP workers burnt the office of Forest Department and four vehicles in protest against alleged rigging in Gilgit-Baltistan elections. Protesters also pelted stones at a fire brigade vehicle. The situation in the area was tense.
A large contingent of police rushed to the spot to control the enraged PPP workers and charged with batons and aerial firing to control the situation.
On the other hand, the PPP leadership has strongly condemned the firing and shelling on the protesters. “Our workers have the right to peaceful protest against rigging in Gilgit-Baltistan,” said a statement issued by Senator Sherry Rehman. Shelling and firing on peaceful protesters is reprehensible.
