17 January 2005	Monday	06 Zilhaj 1425

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GILGIT, Jan 16: People heaved a sigh of relief when the local authorities allowed a two-hour curfew break, from 2pm to 4pm, in Gilgit on Sunday.

However, sources said that in Skardu city no relaxation in curfew had been given in the curfew since its imposition, which had created an acute shortage of food and fuel in the city in freezing temperature.

Many people managed to buy essential items in panic during the curfew break here. Local officials said they had ordered truckloads of food to enter the city from down country and government silos were asked to open shutters to provide wheat bags to consumers despite the fact that the local department had banned issuance of wheat and opening of the godowns.

They, however, said passenger buses were not allowed to enter the city from the adjoining district of Kohistan to maintain order. The authorities claimed that during the break, the overall situation remained calm and peaceful.

A number of stranded people were also seen leaving the city, but labourers and poor passengers were unable to move out of the city due to shortage of transport and money.

The sources said police had arrested in Skardu city over 30 persons for damaging public and private property and violating the curfew order. Northern Areas police chief IG Sakhiullah Tareen said five persons had been held in the murder case of Agha Ziauddin Rizvi. He said an investigation team was investigating the case.