Pakistan Occupied kashmir: Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2012

Resentment is brewing up in Gilgit Baltistan (GB) with the local representatives there calling on the US to support the right of self- determination of the people of the disputed region, saying that they are being oppressed by the Pakistan Government, Daily Excelsior reported. A three-member delegation of US embassy in Islamabad, including Lisa Buzenos, Political/Economic Officer and Kimberly Phelan, Political Officer, met chairperson of GB United Movement (GBUM), Manzoor Hussain Parwana in Gilgit on May 31, reports said. Parwana called denial of the right of self-determination and degradation of local national and cultural identity as two main issues for the people of GB, saying that with abundance of natural resources and enviable geo-strategic location the region fulfils the criteria to sustain as an independent country. "We expect brotherly relations with our neighbours namely India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, China and Afghanistan but do not expect them to treat us like a colony. The international community including our neighbors should respect our will to exist as an independent nation. We intend to use our land and resources for the well-being of our people but would refuse to let our neighbours exploit us to enhance their strategic depth or use our poor people as cannon fodder," Parwana said in a statement that was distributed in Washington on June 1. Read less...

In a bid to equip the Gilgit Baltistan (GB) Police to maintain law and order in the mountainous region, GB Chief Minister Mehdi Shah on June 6 handed over 2,000 weapons and 200,000 rounds to the force, reports The Express Tribune. He said the weapons will enable the Police to effectively counter terrorism and extremists; “the menaces that have ruined life in the region”. “We have spent Rs [PKR] 220 million to procure these weapons; now I will not tolerate lame excuses from the police in maintaining law and order,” he added. He said that the Police also have been provided wireless sets and counter-terrorism training. He added that efforts are also underway to build the capacity of intelligence agencies. The weapons handed over to the Police included a total of 700 G3-rifles with 70,000 rounds, 300 7.62mm sub-machine guns with 30,000 rounds, and 1,000 9mm MP5 sub-machine guns with 100,000 rounds were. Read less...

the Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly (GBLA) enacted a law to curb sectarian menace, reports The Express Tribune. The GBLA has become the first provincial legislature to have enacted a law dealing with sectarianism. Titled “Code of Conduct” (CoC), the bill was unanimously passed by the GBLA after being tabled in the house by Law Minister Wazir Shakeel on June 8. “CoC has been given a legal status and GBLA is the first assembly to have passed such a bill,” said Amjad Hussain, a lawyer and ruling party member of GBLA. He said that the bill was earlier endorsed by top clerics of different schools of thought. Read less...

Ehsan Khan, a vegetable supplier and resident of Sawat near Guru Jaglote, was injured when unidentified men opened fire on his van when he was returning to Gilgit after delivering stocks to the markets in Hunza on June 13, reports The Express Tribune. Khan succumbed to his injuries later. Police arrested seven people in connection with the murder, which the Police believe to be sectarian-motivated. “On the face of it, the murder appears to be sectarian-motivated but it will be established only after the investigations are completed,” a Police official, asking not to be named, said. Infuriated over the killing of a vegetable supplier, the traders’ union observed a shutter-down strike here on June 14. Most of the city presented a deserted look. Read less...

the National Assembly on June 14 approved five demands of grants worth PKR 11,377,526,000 for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Division for the fiscal year 2012-13, according to APP. The demands of grants presented to the House by Finance Minister Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh included PKR 244,565,000 for the Federal Government to meet expenditure in respect of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Division, PKR 800,091,000 in respect of other expenditures of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Division. Read less...