Karachi, Pakistan: A tragic incident in Karachi has sparked outrage and raised serious concerns about the treatment of residents from Pakistan-administered Kashmir (Gilgit Baltistan), after an elderly man from the region was killed in a hit-and-run by a water tanker. The victim, a resident of the Gilgit-Baltistan region, was severely injured after being struck by the tanker while walking in the city. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
In the aftermath of the incident, the victim’s family staged a protest, demanding the immediate arrest of the tanker driver and the filing of an FIR against him. However, rather than taking action against the driver, local police responded by detaining the grieving relatives, accusing them of being “foreign nationals” and subjecting them to physical abuse while in custody.
This disturbing response from law enforcement has drawn attention to an earlier statement made by Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, who controversially claimed that Gilgit-Baltistan was not constitutionally part of Pakistan. His comments have led to a troubling trend of officials and authorities throughout the country now treating residents of the region as foreigners.
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The incident highlights a larger issue regarding the status and treatment of individuals from Pakistan-administered Kashmir within the broader Pakistani context. Many see the actions of the authorities as a reflection of systemic discrimination against people from the region, which remains embroiled in complex territorial and political disputes.
Advocate Manzoor Hussain from Chashroot played a pivotal role by stepping in to secure the release of the detained relatives from the local police station. His intervention was instrumental in ensuring their safety after they were subjected to mistreatment.
The incident has ignited calls for the government of Gilgit-Baltistan to urgently intervene and ensure justice for the victim’s family. There are growing demands for accountability, not only for the driver but also for those responsible for the wrongful detention and abuse of the victim’s relatives.
As the situation continues to unfold, many are urging the Gilgit Baltistan government to take immediate action to address the grievances of the affected family and to prevent further discrimination against residents from Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
