GILGIT, Dec 24 Protests in parts of Ghizer district paralysed life as hundreds of people including women staged a sit-in and blocked roads to denounce death of a student during the by-election in LA-19 constituency of Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly.

Widespread protests erupted following the death of 18-year-old Zubair who was killed during firing when a female polling station in Sherqilla came under attack.

People staged protest demonstration when temperature in the area is minus-9 Celsius. They did not perform the funeral of the victim for two days. The road between Ghizer and Gilgit remained blocked on the second consecutive day as protestors had blocked it at several points.

The activists of Balawaristan National Front (BNF) condemned death of the youth and demanded registration of a case against the leadership of the ruling Pakistan People's Party. BNF leader Nawaz Khan Naji blamed police for the death of the student and sought immediate investigation.

Members of civil society have also condemned the violent event in the peaceful area.

District Police Chief Mohammad Azam blamed supporter of a political leader that they forcibly entered a female polling station and attacked women polling staff, and tried to snatch ballot papers.

The student died and two others got injuries by the bullets of those who were firing on the police, he claimed. “Even I took shelter inside a building.” He said a bridge and police mobile was burnt by enraged mob. Police had arrested five persons but later they were released, he added.

Meanwhile, thousands of people buried Zubair in his native town Sherqilla after application were submitted against Syed Pir Karam Ali Shah, who was contesting the election on the PPP ticket, and his supporter Ghulam Mohammad, general-secretary PPP Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Election Commission did not comment when asked whether result of the by-poll had been notified. However, unofficially Pir Karam has been declared winner.

The BNF has sought re-polling in the constituency.

STUDENT NOMINATION The education department of Gilgit-Baltistan has nominated 75 students against reserved quota in different medical colleges of the country.

According to officials, 40 students were also given nomination letters to engineering colleges. The approval was given on merit by the chief secretary of the region.