GILGIT, Sept 10: The Gilgit-Baltistan lawmakers were told by the region’s police chief on Monday that his force was divided along sectarian lines and much was needed to arrest the sensitive situation.
The Inspector General of Police Usman Zakaria briefed the members of the Legislative Assembly during an in-camera session that since he was new to the area he might take some time to fully understand the things.
The chief minister had directed the local administration and police officials to arrange a briefing to the lawmakers on law and order situation and the strategy to tackle the incidents of violence, after the house unanimously demanded of the government to have an in-camera session to let themselves know of what led to the recent violent attacks in the region.
The police chief told the legislators that the police had sectarian, tribal and ethnic biases, but hoped that extensive trainings would improve affairs.
Home Secretary Dr Faisal Zahoor said the briefing was in fact aimed at devising a future plan of action with the support of the lawmakers to curb sectarianism. He said the lawmakers were informed about the arrests of culprits.
However, some legislators expressed dismay and dissatisfaction over the briefing and said whatever was told was already in their knowledge. “We were expecting that the in-camera session would enlighten us about the actual reason of violence but old mantra was repeated which disappointed us,” said legislators requesting not to be named.
INJURED: Two persons were seriously injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire on them at Bargo, some 20km west of Gilgit, on Monday. Those fired upon were retuning to work after weekend. Police said an accounts officer of the Red Crescent, Naeem, and a student of ninth class, Shakir, were attacked. They received multiple bullet injuries.
Both the injured were taken to Civil Hospital Gilgit where doctors operated upon them but stated their condition was unstable.
Police said a case had been registered. They said the motive behind the attack was yet to be known.http://dawn.com/2012/09/11/gb-police-divided-along-sectarian-lines-lawmakers-told/
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