GILGIT: The residents of Hunza, including political activists, on Tuesday blocked the Karakoram Highway against what they said illegal appointments in the local health department.

The protesters, among them a large number of activists belonging to Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and Awami Workers Party, gathered at the Hospital Chowk in Aliabad, the district headquarters of Hunza, and staged a protest. The protesters chanted slogans against the GB government and the health department, alleging that outsiders had been appointed to fill several vacant posts in Hunza health department.

They said senior GB health department officials appointed their blue-eyed people on the vacant posts, in violation of rules and regulations.

The protesters also alleged that Hunza people were ignored in the recent appointments in the police department.

They demanded that only local residents should be appointed on vacant posts of government departments in Hunza.

The protesters demanded all illegal appointments in the health department should be cancelled.

Due to blockade of the KKH for several hours, commuters suffered a lot.

The district administration officials held negotiations with the protesters and requested them to end the protest.

Hunza assistant commissioner also sent a letter to the district health officer Hunza, asking him to receive fresh applications from locals for appointments on vacant posts of X-ray, lab technicians, and lab assistants, following which the protesters ended the road blockade.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2018