By Tariq Naqash in the Dawn, Dec 27
MUZAFFARABAD, Dec 26: Activists of nationalist Kashmiri groups staged a demonstration here on Saturday to condemn the killing of a teenaged student and alleged rigging in a by-election in Gilgit-Baltistan.
They warned the Pakistan People’s Party to desist from installing “puppet regime” in the region.
The demonstration, organised by the Kashmir National Party (KNP), National Lawyers Forum (NLF), National Students Federation (NSF) and Balawaristan National Front (BNF), started from Upper Adda and culminated outside the local press club.
The slogan mongering participants were also holding a banner which read: “State terrorism by Pakistani forces in district Ghizer is unacceptable.”
An 18-year old student Zubair was killed during the by-polls in Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly’s constituency, Ghizer-I.
The killing sparked widespread protests in the district coupled with road blockades. BNF, whose leader Nawaz Khan Naji was among the contestants, has demanded registration of a case against the local leadership of ruling PPP.
They alleged that the Gilgit-Baltistan government had resorted to bloodshed to turn the visible victory of Mr Naji into defeat to prevent the “voice of nationalists” from reaching the legislature.
They warned that the government could not subdue the nationalist elements by use of brute force and demanded re-polling in the constituency “as a mark of respect to the voice and will of the people.”
“The so-called democratic PPP has set a new example of barbarism by resorting to killing an innocent youth to secure success of its candidate and we all condemn it,” said Afzal Sulehria of KNP. http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/national/killing-of-youth-in-gb-bypolls-condemned-729
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