GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan on Saturday said the residents of Diamer had demanded that an operation be carried out against elements involved in heinous crimes in their area, which was the basis for the operation that was conducted in Deral Valley.

Speaking after a grand jirga held in Chilas on Saturday to discuss law and order situation, Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan said only a few people resisted the operation conducted by security forces to arrest terrorists in Deral Valley of Diamer district.

The security forces had conducted an intelligence-based operation on Thursday to arrest three wanted terrorists who were allegedly involved in the attack on a passenger van in Diamer last year in which nine people were killed. During the operation, a terrorist was killed and two civilians and four Gilgit-Baltistan Scout personnel were injured.

The grand jirga was attended by Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan, Home Minister Shams Lone, Agriculture Minister Mohammad Anwar, local representatives, force commander FCNA Maj Gen Kashif Khalil, Chief Secretary Ibrar Ahmad Mirza, notables, stakeholders, top officials and religious scholars of Diamer.

Chief Minister Khan said only two per cent people of Diamer wanted to disturb peace in the district, warning that, “we will not allow anyone to create unrest in the area”.

He said religious scholars in neighbouring Kohistan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had discouraged militancy, and appealed to Ulema and elders in the region to show seriousness to eliminate the menace of terrorism.

“Protect your area and homes. Diamer has been maligned by a few people and these terrorists are obstacles in the region’s development, he added.

“As a nation we all have to sacrifice for peace and everyone has to play their role in get rid of the scourge of terrorism,” the chief minister said.

Published in Dawn, July 7th, 2024