GILGIT, May 11: The residents of Ganish town in Hunza have asked the Aga Khan Culture Service Pakistan to vacate a 700-year- old fort which was being brought under AKCSP control in the name of renovation.

The heirs of the Ganish Fort argued that the AKCSP took possession of their fort illegally and without their permission. "A large number of tourists are visiting the fort every year, but the proceeds earned through tourism are not being paid to its legal heirs," they said.

They contended that the AKCSP renovated the Baltut Fort, Shigar Forts and Altit Fort with the prior consent of their legal heirs while in the case of Ganish Fort the procedure was never followed.

They demanded that Rs5 million for damages and Rs10m minimum value of the fort as compensation should be paid within a 15 days, else they would move the court law against the AKCSP.

Sources said that police had sealed the fort. Ganish Fort had won Unesco World Heritage Award in 2000 and the British Airways had also conferred a special award for the fort.

CANADIAN ENVOY: The Canadian high commissioner to Pakistan, Margret Huber, visited Gilgit on Monday and inspected various uplift projects in Gilgit and Ghizer districts.