GILGIT: The people of Ghizer demonstrated against what they called leaving out the district in the multibillion rupees package announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan for Gilgit-Baltistan during his visit to the region on Friday.

The protesters blocked the main road in Gahkuch town, the district headquarters of Ghizer, and chanted slogans against Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid Khan for what they said discriminating against Ghizer in the financial package.

The protest call was given by Balawaristan National Front (Naji group) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s local chapter.

The protesters claimed that no single project had been announced in the package for the district, which was injustice with the people, and demanded equal share in the package.

Speaking to the protesters, BNF (N) head and member GB Assembly Nawaz Khan Naji criticised the chief minister for neglecting Ghizer district in the mega development package.

He said the people of Ghizer had been facing discrimination for decades.

Nawaz Naji said people of Ghizer had voted them to power and expected them to protect their rights. He warned of resigning from the assembly membership if the district was not included in the uplift package.

On the occasion, PML-N lawmaker from Ghizer Ghulam Mohammad said ‘unfair’ distribution of development projects would harm unity and harmony in the region.

He accused the PTI-led government of failing to deliver in Pakistan, and said the ruling party would repeat its ‘incompetence’ in GB as well.

He said Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid didn’t bother to allocate a single project for Ghizer in the development package.

He announced that the party would start an agitation campaign after Eid.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2021