GILGIT: The ruling and opposition parties, students and civil society organisations protested here on Friday against the killing of a GB student in Lahore and firing on two students in Rawalpindi.

Protest demonstrations in this regard were held in Skardu and Ghanche districts of Baltistan division.

The protesters demanded of the Punjab chief minister to take action against those involved in the incidents and provide security to GB people living in various cities of the province.

A large number of political workers belonging to various parties gathered at the main Khuplu road, the district headquarter of Ghanche, and burnt tyres, chanting slogans against the government. The protesters were holding placards inscribed with slogans like ‘justice for Dilawar Abbas’, ‘hang the murderers of Dilawar Abbas’.

The protesters said Dilawar succumbed to injuries three days after being beaten by a group of people in Lahore.

Dilawar, a first year student, belonged to the Kiris village of Ghanche.

The speakers demanded of the Punjab government to provide justice to the family of the deceased. They said that feeling of insecurity had been rising among GB people living in Punjab.

A protest demonstration was also held at Chowk Yadgar in Skardu, where the protesters condemned the killing of Dilawar. They said frequent attacks on GB students in the largest province of Pakistan were alarming.

It is to mention here that two students of first year from Hunza were wounded when unknown people opened fire on them in Rawalpindi on Thursday.

In a statement, opposition leader in the Legislative Assembly Mohammad Shafi Khan said attacks on students in Punjab had created panic and feeling of insecurity among GB people living in that province.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2018