March 5, 2003	Wednesday	Muharram 1, 1424

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GILGIT, March 4: Inspector-general police, Northern Areas, Syed Ahsen Mukhtar Ashrraf, observed that the people in the NAs were still traditionalists, having respect for their elders.

He was talking to newsmen on Tuesday at his office in Gilgit, in connection with the last week’s untoward situation, which, according to him, was controlled by the police with the cooperation of the local peace committee and the representatives of different communities.

He said that the police were committed to maintain law and order in the NAs, particularly in Gilgit district, and a ‘fool-proof’ security plan was going to take effect with the beginning of the Muharram, with several district deputy police chiefs deputed to ensure peace in their respective zones, as Gilgit city was divided in several zones to handle any untoward situation efficiently.

He said that the public itself defused the tension caused by the events of last week. He admitted that some irregularities were noticed on the part of the police but no serious damage occurred.

He said that action was being taken by the police against the culprits and many miscreants were arrested in connection with the case of arson, registered with the police, the other day.

Giving the details of clash between some groups, he said that the situation was overcome in time, otherwise there would have been many casualties, and said that the Gilgit SSP got injured while controlling the enraged mob of protesters.

He said that at the entrance of the NAs a police checkpoint was established, and the police had recovered arms in huge quantity, besides arresting some absconders in Ghizer district.