Information Minister Murtaza Solangi remarked on Sunday that inGilgit-Baltistan (GB), there was “a prevailing atmosphere of tranquilityand order,” while emphasizing that the security situation remained stable.He further clarified that the GB government had only requested theassistance of the Pakistan Army and civil armed forces to ensure law andorder during the upcoming chehlum of Imam Hussain, dismissing reports ofarmy deployment as unfounded.
Nevertheless, mobile internet services were suspended in the region due torecent insensitive remarks by clerics from different schools of thought.Solangi, quoting the GB home department’s statement, confirmed that claimsof Pakistan Army deployment were entirely without merit.
“All roads, trade centers, businesses, and educational institutions in GBare operating normally,” Solangi affirmed. He highlighted that theinvolvement of Pakistan Army and civil armed forces was solely for thepurpose of maintaining law and order during the chehlum, with additionalsecurity measures in place for procession routes and imambargahs, alongwith the imposition of Section 144 across the region.
In a subsequent social media post, Solangi reiterated that GB was enjoying”peace and stability.” He noted that while peaceful protests sometimesoccur in response to religious and sectarian concerns, the overall law andorder situation remained tranquil, and reports of unrest were baseless,with no incidents of violence or damage to public property.
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Solangi also shared images from GB to support his statements. Separately,the Gilgit-Baltistan government issued a directive to public and privatetransport companies, instructing them to have their vehicles en route toRawalpindi/Islamabad reach Raikot bridge by 11 am. Additionally, they wererequired to provide trained security guards with licensed weapons forpassenger safety.
