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First Post
3 days ago
- Business
- First Post
Why Gilgit-Baltistan protesters have blocked highway linking Pakistan with China
Protests have intensified in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan, as local traders blocked the Karakoram Highway for a third day on Sunday. The demonstrators are protesting the suspension of trade between Pakistan and China at Khunjerab Pass since December last year. This is not the first time locals have taken to the streets over the government's policies read more Gilgit-Baltistan locals blocked the Karakoram Highway during a protest over Pakistan's trade policy. File Image/Reuters Protests have erupted in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan against the Shehbaz Sharif-led government's trade policies. As agitation escalated, demonstrators blocked the Karakoram Highway (KKH), a key artery of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), on Sunday (June 1). Several protests have been reported in Gilgit-Baltistan in recent months, including over the power crisis. But why are locals protesting now? We will explain. Locals protest in Gilgit-Baltistan Local importers and exporters have been staging protests, backed by political parties, in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan . The sit-in entered its third day on Sunday when protesters blocked the Karakoram Highway, disrupting traffic, as per a Dawn report. The 1,300 km Karakoram Highway connects the Hasan Abdal city near Pakistan's Islamabad to Kashgar in China's autonomous Xinjiang region through the Khunjerab Pass. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Thousands of passengers and tourists were stranded on both sides of the highway for hours on Sunday, as long queues of vehicles were reported due to the protests. The Pak-China Traders Action Committee, a group consisting of the Gilgit-Baltistan Importers and Exporters Association, Gilgit-Nagar Chamber of Commerce, and small trade associations from Nagar, Hunza and Gilgit, called the sit-in protest. Traders, scholars, and civil society members from these areas participated in the weekend agitation. Protesters have threatened to keep blocking the road linking Pakistan to China until their demands are met. Why are locals protesting? Protesters in Gilgit-Baltistan have taken to the streets against 'exploitative policies' of Pakistan's Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), reported Dawn. Traders are demonstrating against the suspension of trade between Pakistan and China for the past six months. The protest leaders claim more than 200 consignments imported from China are stuck at the Sost Dry port in Gilgit-Baltistan, with items worth billions of rupees already expired. Traders are calling for their clearance under a 'one-time amnesty scheme', citing losses. They allege the policies of FBR and Customs at Sost Dry Port have 'economically murdered' locals. The protesters said the trade between China and Pakistan through the Khunjerab Pass was the biggest source of income for locals, adding that the suspension of trade has rendered them unemployed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Stranded trucks stand along the Karakoram Highway, blocked by residents during a sit-in protest against power outages in Khaplu city, in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan region, on January 7, 2025. File Photo/AFP Local traders have to pay all taxes and customs duties on imported goods despite the disputed status of Gilgit-Baltistan . The president of PML-N Nagar chapter, Javed Hussain, slammed the Pakistan government, alleging it was 'not serious in settling the issue'. As per Dawn, he said trade policies at other ports in Pakistan were eased because 'people of those areas have representation in parliament'. 'GB people have been paying all taxes, yet the FBR is reluctant to clear their consignments. 'The government of Pakistan even gave amnesty to high-profile terrorists. So, giving a one-time amnesty to clear 250 consignments after paying taxes was not a big demand,' Hussain reportedly said. The Gilgit-Baltistan government told the protesters their demands were 'genuine', but the issue concerned the federal government led by Sharif. Recent protests in Gilgit-Baltistan In April, Gilgit-Baltistan witnessed widespread protests over land and mineral grabs and power outages. Hundreds of locals hit the streets against the Pakistan Army and government. They denounced the proposed Mines and Minerals Bill, saying it would enable the seizure of their land and minerals. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The mountains, rivers, and minerals are ours. We are the custodians of this land, and we will not allow exploitation without our consent,' a protester said at the time, as per India Today. In January, hundreds of trucks with goods were stranded at the CPEC dry port as the Karakoram Highway was closed due to a sit-in protest against long power cuts. Last September, protests emerged in Gilgit-Baltistan as locals opposed the government's plan to reduce the quantity of subsidised wheat flour and eventually put an end to the subsidy. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
PoK Karakoram highway protests: Thousands block Pakistan-China road for 3 days to protest against Shehbaz Sharif govt's policies
Thousands of residents in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan have blocked the Karakoram Highway for the third straight day, protesting against the Shehbaz Sharif-led federal government's trade policies. The highway, which connects Pakistan to China through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has seen a complete halt in vehicular movement since Friday. Protesters demand customs clearance of stalled Chinese consignments, accusing Islamabad of economic neglect. PoK Karakoram highway protests over stalled imports The protest began after customs authorities suspended clearance of Chinese-imported goods at Sost Dry Port nearly six months ago. Protesters claim that at least 257 consignments remain stuck at the port since December, resulting in expired goods, daily port charges, and financial losses. Protesters are demanding a one-time amnesty scheme to clear the stranded goods. 'The policies of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Customs Department have economically murdered us,' protesters said. 'We cannot bear the losses anymore.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esta nueva alarma con cámara es casi regalada en José Clemente Paz (ver precio) Verisure Undo Traders' groups lead the blockade The protest is led by the Pak-China Traders Action Committee, which includes the Gilgit-Baltistan Importers and Exporters Association, Nagar Chamber of Commerce, and various small trade bodies from Nagar, Hunza, and Gilgit. Since the protest began, long lines of vehicles have formed on both sides of the highway, leaving thousands of passengers and tourists stranded. The sit-in is taking place in Gulmat Nagar and has drawn support from traders, students, scholars, and civil society members. Live Events Recurring protests in Gilgit-Baltistan This is not the first time people in the region have taken to the streets. Last month, residents protested a proposed bill that would allow land and mineral grabs, along with prolonged power cuts. In October 2023, Skardu residents demanded the opening of the road to Kargil in India, citing rising prices and shortages of basic goods. Demonstrators have also protested what they describe as the illegal occupation of their lands, shouting slogans such as 'Kabze par kabza namanzoor' (we reject repeated occupations). Political voices join the protest Local leaders of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) met protesters and expressed support for their demands. However, efforts to persuade the demonstrators to end the blockade were unsuccessful. Javed Hussain, a local leader of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif 's own Pakistan Muslim League (N), openly criticised the federal government's handling of the issue. 'GB people have been paying all taxes, yet the FBR is reluctant to clear their consignments. The government of Pakistan even gave amnesty to high-profile terrorists. So, giving a one-time amnesty to clear 250 consignments after paying taxes was not a big demand,' Hussain told Dawn. Gilgit-Baltistan government passes responsibility Muhammad Ali Quaid, special assistant to the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, said the local administration lacked the authority to resolve the issue. He added that the matter must be handled by the federal government in Islamabad. The repeated protests across the region reflect growing frustration with the central government's economic and political approach toward POK. The continued unrest also exposes the widening gap between local needs and federal policies.
News18
4 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Pakistan Admits Wider Damage From India's Operation Sindoor, Dossier Reveals 8 More Targets
India's 'Operation Sindoor' caused more damage to Pakistan than initially revealed, impacting eight additional locations, a Pakistan dossier has revealed. Pakistan has admitted it suffered more damage than it earlier acknowledged, during India's 'Operation Sindoor' on the intervening night of May 6 and 7. According to a confidential Pakistani dossier on its internal military Operation 'Bunyan un Marsoos', at least eight more of its locations suffered damage in the Indian strikes. A map in the dossier shows Indian strikes in Pakistan damaged structures in Peshawar, Jhang, Hyderabad in Sindh, Gujrat in Punjab, Gujranwala, Bhawalnagar, Attock, and Chor, on the intervening night of May 9 and 10. The mentioned eight locations were not mentioned by the Indian Armed Forces during the press briefings held after the May 7 counteroffensive. Another map revealed locations struck by India on the intervening night of May 7 and 8. On May 10, nearly three days after India launched 'Operation Sindoor' against terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), the Shehbaz Sharif-led country extended a call for a ceasefire to India. A couple of days after the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, satellite images captured by Maxar Technologies revealed significant damage to four air bases in Pakistan – Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi, PAF Base Mushaf in Sargodha, Bholari Air Base, and PAF Base Shahbaz in Jacobabad. More than 100 terrorists, taking shelter in Pakistan, were also killed in the Indian operation. The operation was launched to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which was later claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba. The attack resulted in the killing of 26 tourists. Survivors later said the terrorists had asked them about their faith, and shot dead those who said they were non-Muslims. The terrorists also asked the tourists to recite a ' Kalma ' (an Islamic phrase) to confirm if they were non-Muslims, before shooting them point-blank. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated!
India Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Anger boils over in POK; thousands block China-Pak highway for 3 days
Thousands of angry residents of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan have taken to the streets against the Shehbaz Sharif-led federal government, blocking the Karakoram Highway – the crown jewel of the CPEC connecting China and Pakistan – for three days. A leader of Sharif's party said while the establishment was compensating terrorists, it failed to aid blockade of the Karakoram Highway in Gilgit-Baltistan, part of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), continued for a third day on Sunday, leading to a complete halt to vehicular traffic on the key and exporters based in Gilgit-Baltistan, backed by political parties, including the ruling PML(N), have been protesting the trade policies of the federal government led by PM Sharif, which they describe as "exploitative" and an "economic murder". The sit-in protest at Gilgit-Baltistan's Gulmat Nagar saw thousands of protesters, from all walks of life, vowing to keep the highway linking Pakistan and China closed to traffic until their demands were met, reported Karachi-based daily protesters were also joined by traders, scholars, and civil society members from Hunza, Gilgit and other adjoining neglect of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir by Islamabad has resulted in protests at regular protest comes a month after widespread protests broke out in the Gilgit-Baltistan over a proposed bill that people said would enable land and mineral grabs, and prolonged power outages. Demonstrators denounced what they called the illegal occupation of their lands, chanting slogans like "Kabze par kabza namanzoor" (we reject repeated occupations).advertisementIn October 2023, residents of Gilgit-Baltistan's Skardu district rose in protests demanding the opening of the road to Kargil in India, amid shortages of commodities and inflation in the region. The protests intensified after prominent activist Shabbir Mayyar, who had chanted the slogan "Aar par jod do, Kargil border khol do", was arrested and booked under the anti-terror law, news agency ANI BLOCK PAK-CHINA KARAKORAM HIGHWAYThe protests stem from the suspension of customs clearance for imported consignments from China at Sost Dry Port, which has remained closed for the past six to the protesting traders, at least 257 consignments have been stuck at the port since December, leading to massive financial losses due to expired goods, daily port charges, and other argue that the suspension of clearance has crippled their businesses. They are demanding immediate clearance of the stranded goods through a one-time amnesty scheme, saying they can no longer bear the accumulating protest was called by the Pak-China Traders Action Committee, a banner comprising the Gilgit-Baltistan Importers and Exporters Association, the Nagar Chamber of Commerce, and small trade associations from Nagar, Hunza, and the launch of the indefinite blockade on Friday, thousands of passengers and tourists remain stranded on the Karakoram Highway, with long queues of vehicles stretching on both sides on Sunday, according to the Dawn also chanted slogans against Pakistan Customs and the Gilgit-Baltistan administration, which is controlled by leaders of Imran Khan's protesters highlighted that Gilgit-Baltistan lacked industrial and private sector job opportunities. They noted that trade between Pakistan and China was the primary source of income for the local protesters said the policies of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Customs Department have "economically murdered" the locals, leaving transporters, shopkeepers, labourers, customs clearance agents, hotel owners, and small businessmen jobless for months, as they rely on trade with local PTI leaders met protesters and tried to persuade them to end the protest, but their attempts failed. The government delegations told the protesters that their demands were "genuine" and supported by the Gilgit-Baltistan LEADER SLAMS PARTY'S SHARIF-LED FEDERAL GOVTA local leader of Prime Minister Sharif's PML(N), Javed Hussain, admitted that the federal government, led by his own party, "wasn't serious about addressing the protesters' demands".Hussain, a former member of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, alleged that the region of POK was facing discrimination due to its lack of representation in people have been paying all taxes, yet the FBR is reluctant to clear their consignments. The government of Pakistan even gave amnesty to high-profile terrorists. So, giving a one-time amnesty to clear 250 consignments after paying taxes was not a big demand," Hussain was quoted as saying by Ali Quaid, special assistant to the Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan, told Dawn that the semi-provincial government lacked the authority to address the protesters' demands, effectively passing the responsibility to the Federal government, led by PM Shehbaz traders and residents have been forced to take to the streets at frequent intervals shows the apathy and repression in POK by the occupational Islamabad-Rawalpindi establishment.
News18
17-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Pakistan Vows To Rebuild LeT Terror Hub Muridke Struck By India In Operation Sindoor
Islamabad had claimed that it was a mosque and an educational complex that were hit in the strikes at Muridke, located at about 40 kms from Lahore. The Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistani government has reportedly vowed to rebuild the mosques and Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) headquarters in the Muridke area —one of the nine terror bases hit by India during Operation Sindoor. The Pakistan Markazi Muslim League, a political wing of the banned JuD and a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), on Saturday said that the government has assured them Muridke would be developed at its own expense, reported news agency PTI. Earlier this week, Pakistan's federal minister Rana Tanveer Hussain had visited Muridke and said that the Pakistani government has pledged to rebuild the area at its own expense. 'Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir will personally finance the reconstruction of a mosque damaged in the operation," he had said as reported by India Today. On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor and struck nine terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) including the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) stronghold of Bahawalpur and the LeT's base at Muridke, the two terrorist organisations responsible for major attacks on Indian soil, in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people. advetisement Islamabad had claimed that it was a mosque and an educational complex that were hit in the strikes at Muridke, located at about 40 kms from Lahore. Called the Markaz-e-Toiba, the LeT headquarters operates under the facade of a charitable organisation, JuD. The Markaz complex, like the headquarters of the Jaish-e-Mohammad in Bahawalpur, is the nerve centre of the LeT. India has maintained that it targeted terrorists, saying more than 100 were killed, resisting civilian casualties. Meanwhile, the IMF in its board meeting in Washington on May 9 had cleared a USD one billion tranche for Pakistan as part of its USD 7-billion funding programme for the country. In his address to air warriors at Gujarat's Bhuj Air Force station this week, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had said Pakistan has again started trying to rebuild the terror infrastructure destroyed by India last week. Islamabad will 'spend the money collected from the common citizens of Pakistan to pay around Rs 14 crore to Masood Azhar, the head of the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad" and a UN designated terrorist. Operation Sindoor came after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack claimed the lives of 26 people. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, had claimed responsibility for the massacre in Jammu and Kashmir. (With inputs from PTI) Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Lahore, Pakistan First Published: May 17, 2025, 20:04 IST
