AAC, centre agree on wheat price after 12 days of protests

By Shabbir Mir in The Express Tribune, April 28th, 2014

GILGIT: After 12 days of paralysing protests in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), the Awami Action Committee (AAC) and the centre reached an agreement on restoring the region’s wheat subsidy.

AAC Chairman Ehsan Ali announced the end of the strike at a protest camp in the city at about 11pm on Saturday after receiving “good news” from one of the AAC members negotiating with government officials in Islamabad.

“The deliberations over wheat subsidy have been successful and we announce the end of our struggle,” said Ali, thanking protesters for supporting their cause in one of the region’s longest and peaceful strikes.

Life came to a standstill in major towns of G-B from April 15 when the AAC called for a strike to remain in place till the government restored the region’s wheat subsidy to its original rates.

“We hope the rest of our demands will also be accepted soon,” added Ali.

During negotiations in Islamabad, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and G-B Barjees Tahir led the government committee which included Amjad Hussain, Muhammad Ibrahim, Bashir Ahmed Khan and Maulana Attaullah Shahab while the AAC was represented by Shaikh Nasir Zamani, Maulana Abdul Sami and Mirza Hussain.

As per the agreement reached between the two parties, one kilogramme of wheat will be available in G-B for Rs11 instead of the current price of Rs14.

As the news spread, thousands of people who had reached Gilgit from surrounding areas greeted each other, terming the decision a “victory for the poor”.

“We proved the path to victory is through unity,” said Sultan Raees, another key AAC leader. The movement had united otherwise opposing Sunni and Shia groups in G-B who were also seen praying together during the protests.

On Sunday, life returned to normal in G-B after 12 days. The protest camp pitched at Ghari Bagh was also removed.

Talking to The Express Tribune on Sunday, the AAC chairman said he had presented a nine-point charter of demands to the government and they would wait for 30 days to see whether all the demands are met by the government, which include an end to load-shedding and free medical care.

“We will resume protests after 30 days if our demands are unmet. This is what we have communicated to the government,” said Ali. http://tribune.com.pk/story/701074/aac-centre-agree-on-wheat-price-after-12-days-of-protests/