GILGIT, Dec 3: Opposition lawmakers come down hard on the treasury benches over the poor law and order situation in the region as the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly witnessed heated debate in its session, which began on Monday.

No other business could take place as the speaker Wazir Baig gave maximum time to lawmakers to speak their mind about the security situation in the region.

Those who spoke on the occasion included Amna Ansari, Mirza Hussain, Didar Ali, Janbaz Khan, Maulana Sarwar Shah and some members from the treasury benches, including the chief minister.

Didar Ali regretted that culprits behind the incidents of Kohistan and Lolo Sar were yet to be arrested which added fuel to the injuries of the victims’ families.

Opposition leader Janbaz Khan took the floor and said chief minister should explain as to why the police chief was besieged in Nomal valley by the people after police arrested a cleric. He criticised the government for failing to maintain peace.

Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah told the house that the clerics arrested were accused of igniting unrest. He stated that nobody would be spared if law and order was disturbed. He said maintaining order in the region was top priority of the government.

POWER PROJECTS: The Asian Development Bank has agreed to fund two power projects in Gilgit-Baltistan as a high-level meeting to finalise the loan is about to take place in Islamabad, a senior official said.

Secretary water and power Ghulam Mehdi told this correspondent one power project would be set up at Sjagar Thang point of Ghanche and the other at Thak valley of Diamer district.

He disclosed that Shagar Thang project will generate 32MW while Thak power project will produce 6MW of electricity.

He said both projects would cost 74 million US dollars of which 15 per cent would be paid by the government of Pakistan while 85 per cent will be given by the Asian Development Bank as loan.