Author: Tanveer Ahmed

By Tanveer Ahmed GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan government has announced the formation of a high-level judicial commission and launched a comprehensive de-weaponisation campaign, as authorities continue to enforce a curfew in Gilgit to manage unrest. Officials said the independent commission will investigate the recent violence, examining events impartially and submitting findings according to legal procedures. Simultaneously, authorities have initiated a region-wide drive to confiscate illegal weapons, with strict legal action promised against those involved in vandalism, arson, or property damage in Gilgit and Skardu. The curfew in Gilgit remains in effect, with decisions on extending restrictions in Skardu to be made…

By Tanveer Ahmed GILGIT/ SKARDU: At least 11 people were killed and more than 70 injured in violent protests across Gilgit-Baltistan following reports of the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in alleged attacks by Israel and the United States. Authorities imposed an indefinite curfew in Skardu and deployed the army after demonstrators set fire to government and international aid offices. Thousands blocked the main highway, storming and torching buildings including the regional office of the United Nations Development Programme, the senior superintendent of police office, a technology park, and an army public school. The Aga Khan Rural Support…

By Tanveer Ahmed ILGIT: The Government of Gilgit-Baltistan has extended the deadline for applications under its free solar panel scheme until March 5, 2026, responding to high public demand and accessibility challenges in remote areas. Officials explained that many applicants were unable to complete the online application process due to missing documents, while residents in snow-bound and distant regions faced difficulties submitting their forms within the original timeframe. The online portal will reopen Wednesday night and remain active until the new deadline. Authorities urged all eligible residents to submit their applications before March 5, warning that no further extensions will…

By Tanveer Ahmed GILGIT: Widespread protests erupted in Gilgit and surrounding areas after alleged blasphemous remarks targeting sacred religious figures circulated on social media, prompting road blockades, business closures, and heightened security, officials said Monday. The demonstrations began late Sunday, with protesters blocking key arteries including River View Road, Lalak Jan Shaheed Chowk in Jutial, Serena Chowk in Upper Jutial, and Yadgar Chowk. Demonstrators burned tires, erected barriers, and shut down Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, the city’s main thoroughfare. In the Jaglot subdivision, protesters staged a sit-in on the Karakoram Highway, demanding the immediate arrest of the suspect responsible for the online content.…

By Tanveer Ahmed GILGIT: The Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority has issued a high alert across Gilgit-Baltistan, warning that accelerated glacier melt combined with above-normal rainfall forecasts could trigger floods, landslides, and glacial lake outburst floods in 2026. Officials said shifting weather patterns linked to climate change have heightened the vulnerability of the mountainous region, where hundreds of glaciers feed rivers and streams that pass through narrow valleys and densely populated settlements. The warning comes in the wake of extensive damage last year, when torrential rains and sudden glacial lake outbursts inundated villages, swept away roads and bridges, destroyed crops, and…

By Tanveer Ahmed GILGIT: The district administration has established 40 relief counters and activated seven complaint cells across the city to maintain price control and facilitate citizens during the holy month of Ramadan. Assistant Commissioner Gilgit, Captain (R) Adil Ali, said the measures are aimed at curbing profiteering and ensuring the availability of essential commodities at officially notified rates. The complaint cells have been set up in Jutial, Kalma Chowk, Kashrote, Zamir Abbas Chowk, Shaheed Millat Road, Konodas, and Puniyal Road, where municipal staff have been deployed to register public complaints. Citizens can report issues related to overpricing of essential…

By Tanveer Ahmad CHITRAL: Several villages in northern Pakistan have been cut off for nearly a month after heavy snowfall and repeated avalanches blocked the road beyond Garam Chashma in Chitral district. Residents say the route linking Garam Chashma to Gobor and at least three neighbouring villages has remained closed for about 28 days, leaving families to carry food and essential supplies on their shoulders from the last accessible point. Hamid Khan, a former village nazim in the area, said the situation had become increasingly difficult. “Vehicles can go only so far,” he said. “Beyond that, people have to load…

By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Police in Daraban successfully intercepted an attempt to smuggle 50 kilograms of silver during a timely operation within the jurisdiction of Daraban Police Station, officials said. According to sources, routine checking at the Darazinda check post led Check Post In-charge Muhammad Asif and ASI Allah Nawaz to stop a suspicious vehicle, a Honda Civic bearing registration AXX-569 ICT (Islamabad). Initial questioning raised doubts, prompting the vehicle to be moved to Daraban Police Station for a thorough inspection. Under the supervision of SDPO Circle Daraban, Inamullah Khan, police conducted a detailed search and recovered…

By Tanveer Ahmed GILGIT: The Second FCNA Inter-District Gilgit-Baltistan Football Tournament 2026 concluded at Lalak Jan Stadium on Wednesday, with Team NLI defeating Team Ghizer 1–0 in a tightly contested final to lift the championship trophy. Organized with the support of the Pakistan Army, the tournament is among the region’s largest sporting events, designed to promote football, encourage youth participation, and strengthen inter-district cohesion across Gilgit-Baltistan. Seventeen teams representing various districts competed, showcasing disciplined play and competitive spirit. Large crowds attended the matches, filling the stadium and creating an energetic atmosphere with sustained applause and chants. The final match was…

By Tanveer Ahmed GILGIT: The Spring Tree Plantation Campaign 2026 was formally inaugurated in Gilgit-Baltistan, with Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (R) Yar Muhammad planting the first deodar sapling at the Forest Complex Jutial. Caretaker provincial ministers, secretaries, senior officials of the Forest and Wildlife Department, and other government representatives also participated in the event. Launched under the Forest and Wildlife Department as part of the Green Pakistan Program, the campaign aims to make Gilgit-Baltistan greener, mitigate climate change, and reduce natural hazards such as floods, riverbank erosion, and landslides. The initiative has set a target of planting 3.5 million forest…