The Gilgit-Baltistan government, amidst a week-long tense situation, has refuted claims of army deployment as unfounded. They clarified that they have sought the assistance of the Pakistan Army and civil armed forces solely to maintain law and order during the upcoming Chehlum of Imam Hussain.
In response to recent incidents where two clerics made insensitive remarks, sparking unrest, the authorities have suspended mobile internet services across the region indefinitely.
The turmoil began on September 1st when protests were organized in Gilgit, following derogatory remarks made by prominent cleric Maulana Qazi Nisar Ahmed. An FIR was filed against him, along with another against Agha Baqir Al-Hussaini in Skardu for similar reasons.
Unrest escalated as protesters in Diamer blocked key roads, demanding Agha Baqir's arrest, and demonstrations spread to Astore and Gilgit. Only after registering a case against Agha Baqir did the protests subside. However, his supporters responded with strikes and road blockades in Skardu.
To address the situation, the government took action against individuals sharing sectarian posts on social media, suspending two police personnel and a schoolteacher, and detaining over 12 individuals for posting controversial content.
The GB government is currently engaged in discussions with religious elders to restore peace in the region and promote messages of peace in sermons.
In response to the unrest, the United Kingdom, along with Canada and the US, advised its citizens to avoid visiting the northern areas due to potential protests, road closures, and disruptions to local mobile and internet networks.
The GB Chief Minister, Gulbar Khan, chaired a meeting to review the security situation, leading to the decision to call in the army for protection and deploy Rangers, GB Scouts, and FC personnel in major cities. Legal action will be taken against those insulting religious beliefs, and the government is committed to maintaining law and order while ensuring business and tourism activities continue uninterrupted.
Despite concerns, a top official reported that the security situation in GB is currently normal, with no protests occurring in Gilgit on the day in question. The government clarified that they have only requested the Pakistan Army and Civil Armed Forces for the upcoming Chehlum processions and that the situation is peaceful, dismissing rumors of army deployment as baseless. They have also heightened security measures along procession routes and imambargahs as a precautionary step.
