THIS is with reference to the report ‘Nine killed as bus comes under gun attack in Chilas’ (Dec 3). The tragedy has once again exposed how everyday lives are torn apart in a game that people have no control over; a game they should not even be a part of.

The pain runs deep, especially for the middle and lower classes. Air travel is an unattainable luxury, and taking a bus has become a risky adventure. People are not seeking luxuries, but basic human rights. The latest brutality took place just when the local voices in Gilgit were standing strong against new acts of oppression, like cutting down wheat subsidies.

What started as a united stand against the loss of wheat subsidies, which is a sign of economic hardship, was hijacked by divisive forces, and was overshadowed by sectarian conflicts.

It is disheartening to see these incidents happening under the guise of sectarianism. What is more concerning is how such unfortunate incidents do not seem to grab the lasting attention of the national media.

Rakhshanda Abbas
Gilgit

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2023